empiricism

noun

em·​pir·​i·​cism im-ˈpir-ə-ˌsi-zəm How to pronounce empiricism (audio)
em-
1
a
: a former school of medical practice founded on experience without the aid of science or theory
2
a
: the practice of relying on observation and experiment especially in the natural sciences
b
: a tenet arrived at empirically
3
: a theory that all knowledge originates in experience
empiricist noun

Examples of empiricism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Romantic literature isn’t all love stories; the cohort rejected the cold reason and empiricism of the Enlightenment in favor of the irrational, the supernatural, the emotional, and the deeply subjective. Judy Berman, TIME, 1 July 2024 But the Gulf rulers have also evinced a hard-headed, Machiavellian empiricism that is amoral rather than immoral. Robert D. Kaplan, Foreign Affairs, 8 Aug. 2023 That's why empiricism was invented in the first place, and why it's been so spectacularly successful over the last few centuries. Sean Carroll, Discover Magazine, 2 Apr. 2012 In short, empiricism dominated philosophy and psychology until the second half of the 20th century, when nativist-friendly thinkers such as Noam Chomsky swung the pendulum back toward Plato. Jacob Beck, Scientific American, 14 Feb. 2023 See all Example Sentences for empiricism 

Word History

Etymology

empiric + -ism

First Known Use

1658, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of empiricism was in 1658

Dictionary Entries Near empiricism

Cite this Entry

“Empiricism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/empiricism. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

empiricism

noun
em·​pir·​i·​cism im-ˈpir-ə-ˌsiz-əm How to pronounce empiricism (audio)
em-
1
: the practice of relying on observation and experiment in the natural sciences
2
: a theory that knowledge begins with experience
empiricist noun or adjective

Medical Definition

empiricism

noun
em·​pir·​i·​cism im-ˈpir-ə-ˌsiz-əm, em- How to pronounce empiricism (audio)
1
a
: a former school of medical practice based on the teachings of the empirics
b
2
: the practice of relying on observation and experiment especially in the natural sciences

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