atomism

A1T1O1M3I1S1M3

noun

The ancient Greek theory that all matter is composed of very small indestructible and indivisible particles.

Similar
atomic theoryatomist theoryatomistic theory
Opposite
holism
OriginEnglish atom ← Middle English attome ← Middle French athome →
UncommonScrabble 11
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Meanings

nounatomism (countable and uncountable, plural atomisms)

plural atomisms

  1. countableuncountablehuman sciencesThe ancient Greek theory that all matter is composed of very small indestructible and indivisible particles.
  2. countableuncountablehuman sciencesThe doctrine that society arises from individuals and that larger structures are unimportant.
  3. countableuncountablehuman sciencesThe doctrine that only simples (atoms without parts) exist ultimately.

Synonyms & antonyms

noun(chemistry) any theory in which all matter is composed of tiny discrete finite indivisible indestructible particles

Similar
atomic theoryatomist theoryatomistic theory
Opposite
holism
Broader
theory
Also see
atomic theoryindivisibilism

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*né
  2. Proto-Indo-European*n̥-
  3. Proto-Hellenic*ə-
  4. Ancient Greekἀ- (a-)
  5. Proto-Indo-European*temh₁-
  6. Ancient Greekτέμνω (témnō)
  7. Ancient Greek*τομός (*tomós)
  8. Ancient Greekἄτομος (átomos)
  9. Latinatomu
  10. Middle Frenchathome
  11. Middle Englishattome
  12. Englishatom
  13. Englishatomism

From atom + -ism.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian атомизъм
  • атомизъм (atomizăm)ancient Greek theory
Catalan atomisme
  • atomismeancient Greek theory
Chinese Mandarin 原子說 /原子说
  • 原子說 /原子说 (yuánzǐshuō)ancient Greek theory
Czech atomismus, atomizmus
  • atomismusancient Greek theory
  • atomizmusancient Greek theory
Dutch atomisme
  • atomismeancient Greek theory
Finnish atomismi, atomioppi
  • atomismiancient Greek theory
  • atomioppiancient Greek theory
Greek ατομισμός
  • ατομισμός (atomismós)ancient Greek theory
Indonesian atomisme
  • atomismeancient Greek theory
Irish adamhachas
  • adamhachasancient Greek theory
Japanese 原子説
  • 原子説 (genshisetsu)ancient Greek theory
Latin atomismus
  • atomismusancient Greek theory
Polish atomizm, atomistyka
  • atomizmancient Greek theory
  • atomistykaancient Greek theory
Portuguese atomismo
  • atomismoancient Greek theory
Romanian atomism
  • atomismancient Greek theory
Russian атоми́зм
  • атоми́зм (atomízm)ancient Greek theory
Turkish atomculuk
  • atomculukancient Greek theory
Ukrainian атомізм
  • атомізм (atomizm)ancient Greek theory
Cite this entry
APA

atomism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/atomism

MLA

“atomism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/atomism. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “atomism,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/atomism.

Source: atomism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.