noun · 2 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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Received-Pronunciation:/ˌɛ.pi.fəˌnɒ.mə.nəˈlɪ.zəm/
General-American:/ˌɛ.pi.fəˌnɑ.mə.nəˈlɪ.zəm/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ɪzəm
1
noun
Meaning 1
The doctrine that consciousness, mental states and processes are simply by-products of physiological events in the brain or nervous system and cannot themselves cause anything, whether material or immaterial.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
In the eyes of epiphenomenalism, anger does not cause one to shout nor does grief cause one to cry; the feelings are by-products of the underlying physical causes and nothing more.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: conscious automatism, automatism
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: property dualism
2
noun
Meaning 2
Such a doctrine, as advanced by a particular thinker or school of thought.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h1ep-der. Proto-Indo-European *h1épsder. Proto-Indo-European *h1epi Proto-Hellenic *epí Ancient Greek ἐπί (epí) Ancient Greek ἐπῐ- (epĭ-)der. English epi- Proto-Indo-European *bheh2-der. Proto-Hellenic *pháňňō Ancient Greek φαίνω (phaínō) Ancient Greek φαινόμενον (phainómenon)bor. Late Latin phaenomenonder. English phenomenon Proto-Indo-European *h2el-der.? Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālisbor. Old French -albor. ▲ Latin -ālis Old French -elbor. ▲ Latin -ālisbor. Middle English -al English -al ▲ Ancient Greek φαινόμενον (phainómenon)bor. French phénomène ▲ Old French -al Middle French -al French -al French phénoménalbor. English phenomenal English epiphenomenal 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 epiphenomenalism From epiphenomenal + -ism. Coined by English psychologist James Ward in 1899.
Across languages
Translations
3 source translations are retained for this English entry.
