animistic

C2 Topic:Religion & Belief

US /ˌænəˈmɪstɪk/ UK /ˌænɪˈmɪstɪk/ See IPA manual

Freq #239630

Meanings

1

adj
relating to animism, the belief that spirits or souls inhabit natural beings, objects, or phenomena

The ritual reflected an animistic belief that the river possessed its own spirit.
2

adj
explaining events by attributing intention, emotion, or agency to nature or inanimate things

The claim that the storm was angry offered an animistic explanation of the disaster.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · relating to animism, the... animistspirit-based

2 adj · explaining events by... anthropomorphic personifying

Opposites

materialistic mechanistic

Word family

Derived forms animistically

Related forms animismanimistspiritanthropomorphism

Etymology

Formed from animist + -ic, or from animism + -istic. Animism is built on Latin anima, 'breath, life, soul,' with -ism. The modern anthropological sense concerns belief in spiritual agency within nature; animistic can also describe explanations that assign will or feeling to natural events.

Topics

Religion & Belief

External links

# animistic

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˌænəˈmɪstɪk/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌænɪˈmɪstɪk/
**Frequency rank:** 239630

## Meanings
1. relating to animism, the belief that spirits or souls inhabit natural beings, objects, or phenomena
2. explaining events by attributing intention, emotion, or agency to nature or inanimate things

## Examples
- The ritual reflected an animistic belief that the river possessed its own spirit.
- The claim that the storm was angry offered an animistic explanation of the disaster.

## Synonyms
- animist
- spirit-based
- anthropomorphic

## Antonyms
- materialistic
- mechanistic

## Derived Forms
- animistically

## Related Forms
- animism
- animist
- spirit
- anthropomorphism

## Etymology
Formed from animist + -ic, or from animism + -istic. Animism is built on Latin anima, 'breath, life, soul,' with -ism. The modern anthropological sense concerns belief in spiritual agency within nature; animistic can also describe explanations that assign will or feeling to natural events.

## Topics
- Religion & Belief

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