holistic
hoh-LIS-tik
/hoʊˈlɪstɪk/
Characterized by the belief that the parts of something are intimately interconnected and explicable only by reference to the whole.
In education, a holistic approach considers a student's physical, emotional, and social needs, not just their grades.
The story behind the word. Coined in 1926 by Jan Smuts, a South African statesman and philosopher, from the Greek 'holos'. He wanted a word to describe the tendency in nature to form wholes that are greater than the sum of their parts.
Word relationships
- comprehensive: Comprehensive means including everything; holistic means seeing how everything is connected as one system.
- atomistic: Atomistic means breaking things down into small, separate parts.
Word family
- holism (noun): The theory that parts are connected to a whole.
Collocations
- holistic approach
- holistic view
- holistic development
Example sentences
- "A holistic approach to education ensures that a child's emotional health is as prioritized as their academic achievement." Modern medical and educational trends.
Memory hook
Holistic starts with 'H-O-L', which sounds like 'WHOLE'. It's about the 'whole' person. The whole picture.
When not to use
Don't use it when you are focusing on a single, isolated detail or a narrow technical skill.
Fun facts
- The 'w' in 'whole' was added in the 15th century; the Greek root 'holos' is actually the ancestor of the English word 'hale' (as in 'hale and hearty').
Explore more words
integrated, systemic, interconnectedness, interdependent, complementary, symbiotic
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