English dictionary · noun

animism

A belief that spirits inhabit some or all classes of natural objects or phenomena.

Meaning and definitions

1. A belief that spirits inhabit some or all classes of natural objects or phenomena.
2. A belief that an immaterial force animates the universe.
3. A doctrine that animal life is produced by an immaterial spirit.

Connected roots

• anim-

  mind, spirit, breath

Explore the word family

These words share a recorded root connection. A shared root is a learning clue; it does not establish every step in a word’s history.

• animate

  to bring to life; to give motion to

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