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 health, it means treating the whole person—mind, body, and spirit—rather than just the symptoms of a disease.
The story behind the word. Coined in the 1920s by Jan Smuts, a South African statesman and philosopher, 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' emphasizes the interconnection between the parts.
- integrated: 'Integrated' means parts are combined; 'holistic' is the philosophy behind that combination.
- atomistic: Breaking things down into small, independent parts.
- fragmented: Broken into separate, disconnected pieces.
Commonly confused with
- wholistic: This is an alternative spelling, but 'holistic' is the standard academic and medical form.
Word family
- holistically (adverb): In a way that relates to the whole rather than to its parts.
- holism (noun): The theory that parts of a whole are in intimate interconnection.
Collocations
- holistic approach
- holistic medicine
- holistic view
- holistic perspective
Example sentences
- "The clinic takes a holistic approach to medicine, looking at a patient's diet and stress levels as well as their physical symptoms." Describing a modern medical approach.
- "We need a holistic view of the company's problems if we are going to find a lasting solution." Discussing business strategy.
Memory hook
Holistic starts with 'H' for 'Whole'. The whole picture.
When not to use
Don't use it as a synonym for 'vague' or 'spiritual'; it refers to a specific systems-based approach.
Fun facts
- The 'w' in 'whole' was added in the 15th century; the root 'holos' is also where we get 'hologram'.
Related words
Explore more words
integrated, systemic, interconnectedness, interdependent, complementary, symbiotic
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