lombrosian school: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
RareFormal, Academic, Historical
Quick answer
What does “lombrosian school” mean?
A historical school of criminology founded by Cesare Lombroso, which proposed that criminals are biologically distinct from non-criminals, identifiable by specific physical anomalies or 'atavistic' traits.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A historical school of criminology founded by Cesare Lombroso, which proposed that criminals are biologically distinct from non-criminals, identifiable by specific physical anomalies or 'atavistic' traits.
More broadly, refers to the now-discredited theory of biological determinism in criminology. Used metaphorically to criticize any theory relying on simplistic physiological explanations for complex social or behavioural phenomena.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant usage differences. The term is used identically in academic histories of criminology.
Connotations
Universally negative and dismissive in contemporary academic contexts.
Frequency
Equally rare in both UK and US academic English.
Grammar
How to Use “lombrosian school” in a Sentence
The Lombrosian school [verb: argued/posited/claimed] that...Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “lombrosian school” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [No verb form exists]
American English
- [No verb form exists]
adverb
British English
- [No adverb form exists]
American English
- [No adverb form exists]
adjective
British English
- His lombrosian theories were popular in the late Victorian era.
American English
- The study was criticized for its lombrosian assumptions about physiology.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in historical, criminological, and sociological texts to describe a discredited theory.
Everyday
Extremely unlikely to be encountered.
Technical
A technical term within the history of criminology and sociology of deviance.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “lombrosian school”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “lombrosian school”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “lombrosian school”
- Misspelling as 'Lombrosian' (missing the 'o') or 'Lombrossian'.
- Using it as a current, valid theory rather than a historical one.
- Incorrect pronunciation stressing the first syllable (LOM-brosian) instead of the second (lom-BROSian).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is completely discredited. Modern criminology focuses on social, economic, and psychological factors, not physical anthropology.
Cesare Lombroso, an Italian criminologist and physician, in the late 19th century.
It is criticized for being scientifically flawed, racially biased, and for promoting biological determinism without sufficient evidence.
Primarily in history, criminology, sociology, and the history of science or medicine.
A historical school of criminology founded by Cesare Lombroso, which proposed that criminals are biologically distinct from non-criminals, identifiable by specific physical anomalies or 'atavistic' traits.
Lombrosian school is usually formal, academic, historical in register.
Lombrosian school: in British English it is pronounced /lɒmˈbrəʊzɪən skuːl/, and in American English it is pronounced /lɑmˈbroʊʒən skul/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[None specific to this term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: LOMBROSO + IAN (belonging to) + SCHOOL (of thought). "Lombroso's school of thought claimed you could spot a criminal by their LOOKS (LOBrowsian)."
Conceptual Metaphor
CRIMINALITY IS A PHYSICAL DISEASE (inherited, diagnosable through bodily signs).
Practice
Quiz
The Lombrosian school is primarily associated with which idea?