relativism
noun
rel·a·tiv·ism
| \ ˈre-lə-ti-ˌvi-zəm
\
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Definition of relativism
1a
: a theory that knowledge is relative to the limited nature of the mind and the conditions of knowing
b
: a view that ethical truths depend on the individuals and groups holding them
2
: relativity
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Other Words from relativism
relativist
\ ˈre-lə-tə-vist
\
noun
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noun
Examples of relativism in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Closing of the American Mind, a complaint about the nature of higher education, is an argument against cultural relativism. — Patrick Iber, The New Republic, "Pioneers of Cultural Relativism," 14 Aug. 2019 Our ambiguous slide into moral relativism has left us all at sea. — Dallas News, "Chuck Klosterman tries to make sense of our absurd reality in 'Raised in Captivity'," 16 July 2019 Christian theologians and conservative political activists denounced Holmes’s moral relativism in insisting that law could be separated from God’s will. — Jeffrey Rosen, Washington Post, "Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes and the dangers of moral certainty," 27 June 2019 Yet many of us cannot help but acknowledge that our country is becoming less morally estimable, as human freedom is increasingly understood as limitless relativism and accompanied by totalitarian moralism on much of the left. — Daniel J. Mahoney, National Review, "Democracy’s Moral Foundations: Recovering Our ‘Constitution in Full’," 20 June 2019 The pernicious philosophy of relativism teaches that there is no objective truth. — WSJ, "Notable & Quotable: Betsy DeVos," 18 Sep. 2018 Bad things: Jenny, Vanessa’s sudden descent into moral relativism. — Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, "Every Single Episode of Gossip Girl, Ranked," 19 Sep. 2018 Long shrouded in a gray area of cultural relativism, eating dogs has become a taboo in the country as younger generations gravitate closer to the Western belief that a pooch is man’s best friend, rather than a tasty delicacy, according to AFP. — Fox News, "South Korean court outlaws killing dogs for their meat," 21 June 2018 Today, the lens represents a struggle between objectivity and relativism. — Allain Daigle, The Atlantic, "How the 50-mm Lens Became ‘Normal’," 13 May 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'relativism.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for relativism
relativism
noun
English Language Learners Definition of relativism
: the belief that different things are true, right, etc., for different people or at different times
See the full definition for relativism in the English Language Learners Dictionary
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