historicism: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal; Academic
Quick answer
What does “historicism” mean?
An approach or theory that interprets historical events and societies as determined by their specific historical contexts and developmental laws, often with the belief that history follows predictable patterns or that one can derive general principles from studying the past.
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Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An approach or theory that interprets historical events and societies as determined by their specific historical contexts and developmental laws, often with the belief that history follows predictable patterns or that one can derive general principles from studying the past.
1. In architecture and art: the deliberate use or revival of historical styles and motifs. 2. In philosophy of history: the doctrine that history is governed by objective laws or that all sociological knowledge is historically relative. 3. The tendency to view ideas, institutions, and cultures as products of their historical development.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or spelling. Usage is almost exclusively academic in both regions.
Connotations
In British academic discourse, 'historicism' is often strongly associated with the ideas of thinkers like R.G. Collingwood. In American discourse, it may be more frequently linked to critiques from philosophers like Karl Popper.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency and specialized in both varieties, confined to history, philosophy, social theory, and art/architecture criticism.
Grammar
How to Use “historicism” in a Sentence
[Subject] critiques/rejects/embraces historicism.The [theory/approach] is a form of historicism.Historicism in [field, e.g., architecture] is evident in...[Author]'s historicism led him to conclude that...Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “historicism” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The approach historicises social phenomena, seeking their roots in specific eras.
American English
- The critic historicizes the novel, placing it firmly within the Cold War context.
adverb
British English
- The author writes historicistically, framing every idea by its epoch.
American English
- She interprets the text historicistically, which some find reductive.
adjective
British English
- His historicist reading of the constitution emphasised its eighteenth-century origins.
American English
- A historicist analysis might overlook transhistorical human commonalities.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Primary context. Used in history, philosophy, literature (e.g., 'New Historicism'), sociology, and art/architecture history to discuss methodological approaches.
Everyday
Extremely rare; would not be understood by most without explanation.
Technical
Key term in historiography and philosophy of history, denoting specific methodological or epistemological positions.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “historicism”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “historicism”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “historicism”
- Confusing 'historicism' with 'historicity' (the quality of being historical).
- Misspelling as 'historism' (which is a related but narrower term).
- Using it as a fancy synonym for 'being historical' or 'interest in history'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Historicism is a theory or method. Historicity is the fact or quality of being historically authentic or true. A document has historicity; a scholar might use historicism.
No, it can be a neutral descriptor of a methodological approach. However, it is often used critically, especially following Karl Popper's influential attack on 'historicist' social planning.
A school of literary theory (emerging in the 1980s) that treats literary and non-literary texts from the same period as interconnected and examines how they mutually influence each other within a broader cultural power structure.
Yes. In art and architecture, it refers to the conscious use of styles and motifs from past artistic periods, common in 19th-century architecture and postmodernism.
An approach or theory that interprets historical events and societies as determined by their specific historical contexts and developmental laws, often with the belief that history follows predictable patterns or that one can derive general principles from studying the past.
Historicism is usually formal; academic in register.
Historicism: in British English it is pronounced /hɪˈstɒr.ɪ.sɪ.zəm/, and in American English it is pronounced /hɪˈstɔːr.ɪ.sɪ.zəm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The poverty of historicism (title of Karl Popper's book).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'HISTORY-ism' – it's an '-ism' (a theory or system) centred entirely on HISTORY and its patterns.
Conceptual Metaphor
HISTORY IS A FORCE/LAW (historicism sees history as a force with governing laws). HISTORY IS A TEXT (especially in New Historicism, where history is read and interpreted like a narrative).
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'New Historicism' primarily used?