particularism noun. [pǝ'tɪkjʊlǝrɪz(ǝ)m] E19.
[French particularisme, mod. Latin particularismus, German Partikularismus, all ult. from Latin particularis PARTICULAR: see -ISM.]
1. Exclusive attachment to one's own party, sect, nation, etc.; exclusiveness; exclusive attention to a particular subject; specialism. E19.

2. Christian Theology. The doctrine that some but not all people are elected and redeemed. M19.

3. Politics. The principle of leaving each State in an empire or federation free to govern itself and promote its own interests, without reference to those of the whole. M19.

4. Philosophy. Concern with elements which have a particular rather than a universal application, or to which no general standard is applicable. M20.

5. Sociology & Economics. The state or fact of having a particular or fixed nature rather than a universal, general, or mobile nature. Cf. UNIVERSALISM 4. M20.

■ particularist noun & adjective (a) noun an advocate or adherent of particularism; (b) adjective of or pertaining to particularists or particularism: E18.

■ particula'ristic adjective particularist L19.

■ particula'ristically adverb M20.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲