SYNCRETISM

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does syncretism mean? 

• SYNCRETISM (noun)
  The noun SYNCRETISM has 2 senses:

1. the union (or attempted fusion) of different systems of thought or belief (especially in religion or philosophy)

2. the fusion of originally different inflected forms (resulting in a reduction in the use of inflections)

  Familiarity information: SYNCRETISM used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SYNCRETISM (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The union (or attempted fusion) of different systems of thought or belief (especially in religion or philosophy)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Context example:

a syncretism of material and immaterial theories

Hypernyms ("syncretism" is a kind of...):

unification; union (the state of being joined or united or linked)

Derivation:

syncretic; syncretical; syncretistic; syncretistical (of or characterized by syncretism)

syncretize (unite (beliefs or conflicting principles))

Sense 2

Meaning:

The fusion of originally different inflected forms (resulting in a reduction in the use of inflections)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural processes

Hypernyms ("syncretism" is a kind of...):

fusion (the merging of adjacent sounds or syllables or words)

Derivation:

syncretic (relating to a historical tendency for a language to reduce its use of inflections)

syncretical (of or characterized by syncretism)

syncretical; syncretistic (relating to a historical tendency for a language to reduce its use of inflections)

syncretistical (of or characterized by syncretism)

syncretistical (relating to a historical tendency for a language to reduce its use of inflections)

syncretize (become fused)