Standard Lemma guide

atomism

noun · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

The ancient Greek theory that all matter is composed of very small indestructible and indivisible particles.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: human-sciences, philosophy, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The doctrine that society arises from individuals and that larger structures are unimportant.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: human-sciences, philosophy, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

The doctrine that only simples (atoms without parts) exist ultimately.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: human-sciences, philosophy, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

(chemistry) any theory in which all matter is composed of tiny discrete finite indivisible indestructible particles

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the ancient Greek philosophers Democritus and Epicurus held atomic theories of the universe

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: atomic theory, atomist theory, atomistic theory

Antonyms: holism

Broader terms: theory

5

noun

Meaning 5

(psychology) a theory that reduces all mental phenomena to simple elements (sensations and feelings) that form complex ideas by association

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: scientific theory

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Hellenic *ə- Ancient Greek ἀ- (a-) Proto-Indo-European *temh1- Proto-Indo-European *-né- Ancient Greek τέμνω (témnō) Proto-Indo-European *-ós Proto-Hellenic *-ós ▲ Ancient Greek -ος (-os)influ. Ancient Greek -ός (-ós) Ancient Greek *τομός (*tomós) Ancient Greek ἄτομος (átomos)bor. Latin atomusbor. Middle French athomebor. Middle English attome English atom Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō) Proto-Indo-European *-mos Proto-Indo-European *-mós Ancient Greek -μός (-mós) Ancient Greek -ισμός (-ismós)der. English -ism English atomism From atom + -ism.

Across languages

Translations

21 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: атомизъм (atomizǎm) — ancient Greek theory
  • Catalan: atomisme — ancient Greek theory
  • Chinese Mandarin: 原子說 /原子说 (yuánzǐshuō) — ancient Greek theory
  • Czech: atomismus — ancient Greek theory
  • Czech: atomizmus — ancient Greek theory
  • Dutch: atomisme — ancient Greek theory
  • Finnish: atomismi — ancient Greek theory
  • Finnish: atomioppi — ancient Greek theory
  • Galician: atomismo — ancient Greek theory
  • Greek: ατομισμός (atomismós) — ancient Greek theory
  • Indonesian: atomisme — ancient Greek theory
  • Irish: adamhachas — ancient Greek theory
  • Japanese: 原子説 (genshisetsu) — ancient Greek theory
  • Latin: atomismus — ancient Greek theory
  • Polish: atomizm — ancient Greek theory
  • Polish: atomistyka — ancient Greek theory
  • Portuguese: atomismo — ancient Greek theory
  • Romanian: atomism — ancient Greek theory
  • Russian: атоми́зм (atomízm) — ancient Greek theory
  • Turkish: atomculuk — ancient Greek theory
  • Ukrainian: атомізм (atomizm) — ancient Greek theory