vitalism C2 Topic:Science & Research UK /ˈvaɪtəˌlɪzəm/ See IPA manual Meanings 1 noun a historical theory that living things depend on a special vital force beyond ordinary physical and chemical processes The lecture traced how vitalism lost influence as biological processes received chemical explanations. Thesaurus Word family Related forms life Etymology Formed from vital + -ism. Topics Science & Research External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # vitalism **Type:** Word **Level:** C2 **Part of speech:** noun **IPA (UK):** /ˈvaɪtəˌlɪzəm/ ## Meanings 1. a historical theory that living things depend on a special vital force beyond ordinary physical and chemical processes ## Examples - The lecture traced how vitalism lost influence as biological processes received chemical explanations. ## Related Forms - life ## Etymology Formed from vital + -ism. ## Topics - Science & Research markdown