determinism
gb/dɪtˈɚmənˌɪzəm/ us/dɪtˈɚmənˌɪzəm/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
technical
C1
abstract
1
events fixed by prior causes
the belief that everything happens because of earlier causes and could not happen in another way
Usage pattern:
determinism; determinism about [human action/the future]
Common mistake:
Do not confuse determinism with determination. Determinism is a theory or idea; determination is strong will or an official decision.
Synonyms
necessitarianism (a more technical philosophical term for the idea that events are necessary rather than open)
|
fatalism (a looser, often nontechnical term; it focuses on inevitable outcomes rather than causal laws)
Antonyms
indeterminism (the view that some events are not completely fixed by prior causes)
|
free will (often contrasted with determinism when human choices are seen as genuinely open)
Collocations
philosophical determinism
|causal determinism
|strict determinism
|scientific determinism
|hard determinism
|reject determinism
|defend determinism
|determinism and free will
|a form of determinism
|belief in determinism
Themes
philosophy
|science
|causation
|free_will
Examples
- The course examines determinism, free will, and moral responsibility.
- She argues that modern neuroscience supports a form of determinism.
- Critics say determinism leaves too little room for genuine choice.
Learner examples
- Determinism says that our choices have causes.
- Many philosophers debate determinism and free will.
Noun
formal
C2
abstract
2
one-factor explanation of outcomes
the idea that one factor almost completely controls what people do or what happens in society
Usage pattern:
[genetic/technological/economic] determinism; accuse [someone/something] of determinism
Common mistake:
In this use, determinism often sounds critical because it may suggest an explanation is too simple.
Synonyms
reductionism (broader; suggests explaining something complex in an overly simple way)
|
essentialism (emphasizes fixed inborn or essential qualities, especially in people or groups)
Antonyms
agency (emphasizes people's ability to make choices and affect outcomes)
|
pluralism (emphasizes multiple causes rather than one controlling factor)
Collocations
genetic determinism
|technological determinism
|biological determinism
|economic determinism
|environmental determinism
|social determinism
|historical determinism
|avoid determinism
|accusations of determinism
|a deterministic account
Themes
society
|history
|psychology
|politics
|criticism
Examples
- The book avoids determinism by showing how culture, policy, and individual choice interact.
- Critics accused the theory of determinism because it treated class as destiny.
- Her argument recognizes biological influences without falling into simple determinism.
Learner examples
- The writer rejects determinism and says people can change their lives.
- This theory has too much determinism for some critics.
Noun
technical
C2
property
3
outcomes set by inputs
the quality of always giving the same result when the starting conditions are the same
Usage pattern:
the determinism of [a system/algorithm/model]; ensure determinism in [a process]
Common mistake:
In computing and science, determinism means repeatable behavior, not a person's determination or motivation.
Synonyms
repeatability (emphasizes getting the same result again, especially in experiments or tests)
|
predictability (emphasizes being able to know the result in advance)
Antonyms
nondeterminism (a system property where the same input may not always lead to the same result)
|
randomness (the presence of chance rather than fully fixed outcomes)
Collocations
algorithmic determinism
|computational determinism
|system determinism
|simulation determinism
|ensure determinism
|preserve determinism
|lose determinism
|lack of determinism
|determinism in testing
|determinism of a model
Themes
computing
|mathematics
|science
|systems
Examples
- The game engine enforces determinism so that replays produce the same sequence of events.
- Testing became difficult after the threading changes introduced a loss of determinism.
- In the model, determinism means the future state is fixed by the current state and the rules.
Learner examples
- This program needs determinism for reliable tests.
- With determinism, the same input gives the same output every time.
Grammar
Dictionary form
determinism
IPA
GB/dɪtˈɚmənˌɪzəm/
US/dɪtˈɚmənˌɪzəm/
Syllables & stress
de - term - in - ism (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (term)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: determinism
- Plural: determinism, determinisms
Expressions
biological determinism
1/bˌaɪəlˈɑd͡ʒɪkəl dɪtˈɚmənˌɪzəm/
fixed phrase
formal
biology fixes human behavior
the idea that biology decides how people behave or what roles they should have
Examples
- The essay criticizes biological determinism in arguments about gender roles.
- Researchers can study biological differences without supporting biological determinism.
- Many social scientists argue that biological determinism ignores culture and history.
economic determinism
1/ˌɛkənˈɑmɪk dɪtˈɚmənˌɪzəm/
fixed phrase
formal
economics determines society
the idea that money, class, or the economy mainly decides what happens in society and history
Examples
- Some critics read Marx as a thinker of economic determinism, though others disagree.
- The historian avoids economic determinism by also discussing religion and political leadership.
- His explanation of the revolution was criticized for economic determinism.
environmental determinism
1/ɪnvˌaɪɹənmˈɛntəl dɪtˈɚmənˌɪzəm/
fixed phrase
formal
environment shapes societies
the idea that climate or geography decides how societies develop
Examples
- Early geography sometimes relied on environmental determinism to explain social differences.
- Modern scholars are cautious about environmental determinism because it can ignore politics and culture.
- The article discusses climate without falling into environmental determinism.
genetic determinism
1/d͡ʒənˈɛtɪk dɪtˈɚmənˌɪzəm/
fixed phrase
formal
genes determine traits
the idea that your genes decide most things about who you are and what you can become
Examples
- The article warns against genetic determinism in discussions of intelligence.
- Most scientists reject simple genetic determinism because environment also matters.
- Her research studies genetic influence without claiming genetic determinism.
hard determinism
1/hˈɑɹd dɪtˈɚmənˌɪzəm/
fixed phrase
technical
no free will
the idea that all actions are caused by earlier events, so people do not really have free will
Examples
- Hard determinism holds that our choices are caused and therefore not genuinely free.
- The philosopher contrasts hard determinism with compatibilism.
- Few students accepted hard determinism after the discussion of moral responsibility.
linguistic determinism
1/lɪŋɡwˈɪstɪk dɪtˈɚmənˌɪzəm/
fixed phrase
technical
language determines thought
the idea that your language controls how you think
Examples
- Most linguists reject strong linguistic determinism but accept that language can influence thought.
- The film seems to endorse linguistic determinism by claiming that new words create new perceptions.
- Discussions of the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis often distinguish linguistic determinism from weaker forms of relativity.
soft determinism
1/sˈɔft dɪtˈɚmənˌɪzəm/
fixed phrase
technical
determinism with free will
the idea that our actions can have causes and still count as free in an important sense
Examples
- Soft determinism argues that a choice can be caused and still be voluntary.
- The class compared hard determinism, soft determinism, and libertarian free will.
- Her position is close to soft determinism because she accepts causal laws but defends responsibility.
technological determinism
1/tˌɛknəlˈɑd͡ʒɪkəl dɪtˈɚmənˌɪzəm/
fixed phrase
formal
technology drives social change
the idea that new technology mainly controls how society changes
Examples
- The documentary sometimes slips into technological determinism, as if smartphones alone changed politics.
- Media scholars often debate technological determinism when discussing the internet.
- He rejects technological determinism and emphasizes law, markets, and user behavior.