fideism

noun

fi·​de·​ism ˈfē-(ˌ)dā-ˌi-zəm How to pronounce fideism (audio)
: reliance on faith rather than reason in pursuit of religious truth
fideist noun
fideistic adjective

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French fidéisme, from Latin fidēs "trust, belief, faith" + French -isme -ism — more at faith entry 1

First Known Use

1885, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fideism was in 1885

Dictionary Entries Near fideism

Cite this Entry

“Fideism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fideism. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on fideism

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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