retreatism: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 / Very RareAcademic / Sociological
Quick answer
What does “retreatism” mean?
The social or psychological practice of withdrawing from society and rejecting its goals and norms.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The social or psychological practice of withdrawing from society and rejecting its goals and norms.
A mode of individual adaptation where a person abandons both the culturally approved goals and the institutionalized means of achieving them, often resulting in apathy, alienation, or self-destructive behaviour. In a non-technical context, it can refer to a general tendency to withdraw from engagement or responsibility.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or pronunciation differences. Usage is identical and confined primarily to academic/sociological contexts.
Connotations
In both varieties, the primary connotation is sociological. Potential metaphorical use carries a negative connotation of shirking or escapism.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both dialects, almost exclusively found in academic texts.
Grammar
How to Use “retreatism” in a Sentence
[Verb] retreatism: exhibit, display, engage in, adopt, characterise by[Preposition] retreatism: a descent into retreatism, a form of retreatism, a mode of retreatismVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “retreatism” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The individual may retreat from societal expectations altogether.
American English
- He has retreated from the traditional career path.
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverbial form. 'In a retreatist manner' is possible but awkward.]
American English
- [No standard adverbial form.]
adjective
British English
- His retreatist behaviour worried his family.
American English
- A retreatist subculture developed on the margins.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used. A metaphorical description of a manager who has disengaged from corporate objectives might be 'accused of retreatism'.
Academic
Primary context. Used in sociology, social psychology, and political science to describe a specific adaptive behaviour in response to societal strain.
Everyday
Extremely rare. If used, it is a deliberate, learned term to describe someone giving up on life's conventional ambitions.
Technical
Core technical term in Mertonian strain theory, alongside conformity, innovation, ritualism, and rebellion.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “retreatism”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “retreatism”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “retreatism”
- Using it as a synonym for a simple 'retreat' (e.g., a military retreat).
- Using it in everyday conversation where simpler words like 'withdrawal' or 'disengagement' are appropriate.
- Mispronouncing as /ˈriːtriːtɪzəm/ (stress on first syllable).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a rare, specialised term used almost exclusively in academic sociology.
'Retreat' is a general noun/verb for withdrawing from something. 'Retreatism' is a specific sociological concept describing the sustained rejection of society's goals and means.
It was popularised by American sociologist Robert K. Merton in his 1938 work 'Social Structure and Anomie'.
Rarely. In its technical sense, it is a neutral classification of behaviour. In metaphorical use, it is almost always negative, implying disengagement and failure to cope.
The social or psychological practice of withdrawing from society and rejecting its goals and norms.
Retreatism is usually academic / sociological in register.
Retreatism: in British English it is pronounced /rɪˈtriːtɪz(ə)m/, and in American English it is pronounced /rɪˈtriːtɪzəm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[None directly, but related to] 'drop out', 'check out', 'withdraw into one's shell'”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a hermit RETREATing to a cave, rejecting society's goals (ISM = practice/ideology). RETREAT + ISM = the practice of retreating from society.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIETY IS A BATTLEFIELD / GAME. Retreatism is leaving the battlefield or refusing to play by the rules and rejecting the prize.
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'retreatism' primarily used?