holistic

adjective
ho·​lis·​tic | \ hō-ˈli-stik How to pronounce holistic (audio) \

Definition of holistic

1 : of or relating to holism
2 : relating to or concerned with wholes or with complete systems rather than with the analysis of, treatment of, or dissection into parts holistic medicine attempts to treat both the mind and the body holistic ecology views humans and the environment as a single system

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Other Words from holistic

holistically \ hō-​ˈli-​sti-​k(ə-​)lē How to pronounce holistically (audio) \ adverb

Look at the Big Picture With Holistic

"The whole is greater than the sum of its parts" expresses the essence of holism, a term coined by the great South African general and statesman Jan Smuts in 1926. Holism generally opposes the Western tendency toward analysis, the breaking down of wholes into parts sometimes to the point that "you can't see the forest for the trees". Holism is an important concept in the sciences and social sciences, and especially in medicine. Holistic medicine tries to treat the "whole person" rather than focusing too narrowly on single symptoms. It emphasizes the connections between the mind and the body, avoids the overuse of drugs, and has borrowed such practices from Eastern traditions as acupuncture and yoga.

Examples of holistic in a Sentence

In a world of specialization, we have been trained to think of medicine as a separate world—when we are sick, we go to doctors and follow their advice. This is starting to change, with the increasing popularity of alternative and holistic approaches to overall health and well-being. — Gareth Cook, Boston Globe, 9 June 2002 The Gaia hypothesis is certainly top-down and holistic, and it's now generally accepted … Organisms have not just adapted to different physical environments; they also modify and improve the environment for their own good—just like people. — Tom Ghaffin, Natural History, October 1998 People with supermarket carts. When did these things come out of the stores and into the streets. She saw these things everywhere … filled with living trivia, the holistic dregs of everything if that is correctly put. — Don DeLillo, Mao II, 1991 Holistic medicine attempts to treat both the mind and the body. We need to take a more holistic approach to improving our schools.
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Recent Examples on the Web

Its team of designers takes a holistic approach to design, consulting on everything from colors to wall treatments, antiques, and objets d’art. Marc Karimzadeh, ELLE Decor, "Supermodel Joan Smalls's Miami Aerie Gets a Luxe Beachy Makeover," 8 Aug. 2019 But among women with low-risk pregnancies, the World Health Organization reports that midwifery’s holistic approach helps to reduce maternal and infant mortality. Calley Hair, The Seattle Times, "Herrera Beutler bill calls for $35 million for midwife education," 23 July 2019 The physician, who served for many years as an in-house doctor of NBC, is a breast cancer survivor who used her experience as inspiration for a holistic treatment approach. Jodi Kantor, New York Times, "Jeffrey Epstein Was a Sex Offender. The Powerful Welcomed Him Anyway.," 9 July 2019 Nay Palad Hideaway, the only five-star stay on the island and one of the country’s most expensive resorts (room rates start at $630), has a private beach, plenty of activities, and a holistic approach to wellness. Marianna Cerini, Condé Nast Traveler, "A Guide to Siargao: The Philippines Island Voted the Best in the World," 5 July 2019 The kaleidoscope of attendees is, much like the location, intended to emphasize the holistic approach necessary for humane architectural change. Marlo Safi, National Review, "Can a Small Italian Village Point the Way to More Livable Modern Cities?," 16 June 2019 The multimedia project is designed to take a holistic approach to lifestyle entertainment and e-commerce, offering viewers a chance to shop products from the show as part of the brand's direct-to-consumer program. Lauren Hubbard, Town & Country, "Jenna Lyons Is Returning to the Style World With a New Reality Show," 9 Oct. 2018 Relying on federal management of disasters is not enough, and a more holistic approach is being sought. Jeff Schlegelmilch, Fortune, "The 2018 Hurricane Season Is Here. We Can’t Just Rely on the Federal Government to Help Us Prepare," 30 May 2018 The issues voters care most about often cross boundaries of various levels of government and need a holistic approach. Elizabeth Marie Himchak, Pomerado News, "Peters challenged by six Republicans in 52nd Congressional primary," 23 May 2018

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

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First Known Use of holistic

1926, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for holistic

hol(ism) + -istic

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More Definitions for holistic

holistic

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of holistic

: relating to or concerned with complete systems rather than with individual parts

holistic

adjective
ho·​lis·​tic | \ hō-ˈlis-tik How to pronounce holistic (audio) \

Medical Definition of holistic

1 : of or relating to holism
2 : relating to or concerned with wholes or with complete systems rather than with the analysis of, treatment of, or dissection into parts holistic medicine attempts to treat both the mind and the body

Other Words from holistic

holistically \ -​ti-​k(ə-​)lē How to pronounce holistically (audio) \ adverb

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