fundamentalism

noun

fun·​da·​men·​tal·​ism ˌfən-də-ˈmen-tə-ˌli-zəm How to pronounce fundamentalism (audio)
1
a
often capitalized : a movement in 20th century Protestantism emphasizing the literally interpreted Bible as fundamental to Christian life and teaching
b
: the beliefs of this movement
c
: adherence to such beliefs
a minister noted for his strict fundamentalism
2
: a movement or attitude stressing strict and literal adherence to a set of basic principles
Islamic fundamentalism
political fundamentalism
fundamentalist noun
fundamentalist adjective
or fundamentalistic

Examples of fundamentalism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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This wasn’t the fire and brimstone of fundamentalism; this was the joyful, big-tent-style Christianity of Billy Graham. Emma Green, The New Yorker, 18 Feb. 2025 In Crimea, more than 220 people have been detained for political reasons since 2014, of which at least 130 were Crimean Tatars, who were charged with extremism following Moscow’s crackdown on Islamic fundamentalism. Nataliya Gumenyuk, Foreign Affairs, 12 Feb. 2025 In seeking this reconciliation, Kingsley rejected both scientific naturalism and religious fundamentalism. Ben Woollard, JSTOR Daily, 29 Jan. 2025 Within the confines of this potential foursome, there are opportunities for psychological rigor, as well as chances to deal with issues including religious fundamentalism, male infertility and the gendering of romantic obsession. Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fundamentalism

Word History

First Known Use

1912, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of fundamentalism was in 1912

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Cite this Entry

“Fundamentalism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fundamentalism. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.

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