Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

See What's Trending Now See More Trending Words

vitalism

play
noun vi·tal·ism \ ˈvī-tə-ˌli-zəm \

Definition of vitalism

1 :a doctrine that the functions of a living organism are due to a vital principle distinct from physicochemical forces
2 :a doctrine that the processes of life are not explicable by the laws of physics and chemistry alone and that life is in some part self-determining
—

vitalist

play \ˈvī-tə-list\ noun or adjective
—

vitalistic

play \ˌvī-tə-ˈli-stik\ adjective

From the M-W Editors

image2143067130
9 Slang Words With Academic Origins
stylized-drawing-of-woman-pole-vaulting-across-gap-to-get-trophy
Challenging Vocabulary Quiz Returns!
video-title-words-of-the-year-1066
Words of the Year: 1066
alt-59c17b8172892
'So Long': A Common But Mysterious Goodbye

Recent Examples of vitalism from the Web

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'vitalism.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of vitalism

1822

Medical Dictionary

vitalism

play
noun vi·tal·ism \ ˈvīt-ᵊl-ˌiz-əm \

medical Definition of vitalism

1 :a doctrine that the functions of a living organism are due to a vital principle distinct from physicochemical forces
2 :a doctrine that the processes of life are not explicable by the laws of physics and chemistry alone and that life is in some part self-determining

Learn More about vitalism

  1. See words that rhyme with vitalism Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about vitalism

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up vitalism? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

holus-bolus

play

all at once

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. bodega "Don’t mess with the beloved bodega."

  2. carceral Of, relating to, or suggesting a jail or prison

  3. allegory No spoilers!

  4. hurricane 'A tropical cyclone'

  5. rescind To take away; cancel; repeal

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

vitalism

Test Your Vocabulary

Challenging Vocabulary Quiz Returns!

  • stylized-drawing-of-woman-pole-vaulting-across-gap-to-get-trophy
  • Which is a synonym of fuliginous?
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

alt-59c17b8172892
'So Long': A Common But Mysterious Goodbye

Its origins are surprisingly murky.

alt-59c13729150dc
"Immune to" or "Immune from"?

Nobody is immune to this question.

alt-59bff395cf879
What's Going On With 'Nonplussed'?

Its recent usage is hard to shrug off.

alt-59bad350d88f1
Welcome to the New Words

From 'hive mind' to 'sriracha'

Ask the Editors

video-title-words-of-the-year-1066
Words of the Year: 1066

Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef'

payday
How Often Is 'Biweekly'?

Don't get us started on 'bimonthly'

video-irregardless-grammar-peeve-blend-of-the-synonyms-irrespective-and-regardless
Irregardless

It is in fact a real word (but that doesn't mean you should use it).

video-moose-goose-weird-plurals
Weird Plurals

One goose, two geese. One moose, two... moose. What's up with that?

Word Games

stylized-drawing-of-woman-pole-vaulting-across-gap-to-get-trophy
Challenging Vocabulary Quiz Returns!

No tricks, just difficult words.

Take the quiz
name-that-color-logo
Name that Color!

NEW! Additional colors! More obscure than before!

Take the quiz
Name That Thing
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

Take the quiz
SCRABBLE® Sprint
SCRABBLE® Sprint

SCRABBLE® fans, sharpen your skills!

Play the game