conˈventionaˌlism: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Academic
Quick answer
What does “conˈventionaˌlism” mean?
Adherence to established customs, rules, or styles, especially in art, literature, or behavior.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Adherence to established customs, rules, or styles, especially in art, literature, or behavior.
A philosophical doctrine that principles, especially in ethics or science, are based on agreement or convention rather than objective reality.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Slightly more common in British academic writing on art and literature.
Connotations
Similar negative connotation of rigidity in both varieties.
Frequency
Low-frequency word in both varieties, primarily found in academic, artistic, and philosophical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “conˈventionaˌlism” in a Sentence
[Noun] of conventionalismconventionalism in [Noun]conventionalism that [Clause]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “conˈventionaˌlism” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The artist sought to conventionalise the radical style.
- They refused to conventionalise their approach to the problem.
American English
- The artist sought to conventionalize the radical style.
- They refused to conventionalize their approach to the problem.
adverb
British English
- She argued conventionalistically for maintaining the old methods.
- The committee decided, rather conventionalistically, to reject the proposal.
American English
- She argued conventionalistically for maintaining the old methods.
- The committee decided, rather conventionalistically, to reject the proposal.
adjective
British English
- His views were highly conventionalist, rejecting any new theory.
- A conventionalist approach to ethics focuses on agreed-upon rules.
American English
- His views were highly conventionalist, rejecting any new theory.
- A conventionalist approach to ethics focuses on agreed-upon rules.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used critically in discussions of corporate culture: 'The company's failure was due to its bureaucratic conventionalism.'
Academic
Common in humanities (art, literature, philosophy) and social sciences to critique adherence to norms or describe philosophical positions.
Everyday
Very rare. Would be replaced by simpler terms like 'being traditional' or 'following the crowd.'
Technical
Specific meaning in philosophy of science and ethics, referring to the theory that certain principles are true by convention.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “conˈventionaˌlism”
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “conˈventionaˌlism”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “conˈventionaˌlism”
- Misspelling as 'conventialism' (missing 'o').
- Using it as a direct synonym for 'tradition' (it's more about the *adherence to* or *quality of* being traditional).
- Pronouncing it with primary stress on the first syllable: /ˈkɒnvən.../ instead of /kənˈvɛn.../.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Most often it carries a neutral-to-negative connotation, implying a lack of originality or excessive rigidity. However, in technical philosophical discourse, it is a neutral label for a specific theory.
'Conventionality' is the quality of being conventional. 'Conventionalism' is the practice or doctrine of adhering to conventions; it often implies a conscious principle or a systematic adherence.
It is very rare. One might use it positively in contexts where stability and respect for tradition are praised, e.g., 'The constitutional conventionalism of the nation provided stability during the crisis.' Usually, a word like 'traditionalism' would be chosen for a positive sense.
Its primary domains are art/literary criticism (to describe unoriginal work) and philosophy (as a technical term for theories based on social or linguistic agreement, notably in ethics, mathematics, and science).
Adherence to established customs, rules, or styles, especially in art, literature, or behavior.
Conˈventionaˌlism is usually formal, academic in register.
Conˈventionaˌlism: in British English it is pronounced /kənˈvɛnʃ(ə)nəˌlɪz(ə)m/, and in American English it is pronounced /kənˈvɛn(t)ʃənəˌlɪzəm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A prisoner of conventionalism”
- “The shackles of conventionalism”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CONVENTION (a large formal meeting) where everyone wears the same suit. CONVENTION-AL-ISM is the 'ism' or practice of doing what everyone at the convention does.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONVENTIONALISM IS A PRISON/CAGE (limits freedom of thought/expression). CONVENTIONALISM IS A WELL-WORN PATH (safe but unoriginal).
Practice
Quiz
In the philosophy of science, 'conventionalism' primarily refers to the idea that: