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pluralism

PLOOR-uh-liz-um /ˈplʊərəˌlɪzəm/

nounC1GRESATTOEFLIELTSUPSC

formalpoliticalacademic

A condition or system in which two or more states, groups, principles, or sources of authority coexist.

Promotes peaceful coexistence, mutual respect, and active engagement among diverse religious or political groups.

The story behind the word. From Latin 'plus' (more) and 'pluralis' (of or belonging to more than one). In medieval church law, 'pluralism' referred to holding more than one church office (benefice) simultaneously. By the 20th century, philosophers and political scientists repurposed the term to describe societies where multiple distinct cultural and religious groups coexist harmoniously.

Word relationships

coexistence: Living together peacefully without necessarily active engagement or power-sharing.
multiculturalism: Focuses on preserving distinct cultural traditions within a society.

monism: The belief that reality or authority is ultimately one single whole.
totalitarianism: A system that permits no individual freedom or opposing viewpoints.

Commonly confused with

plurality: Plurality usually means receiving the most votes without an absolute majority, or large numbers; pluralism is a philosophical principle of coexistence.

Word family

pluralist (noun): An advocate of pluralism.
pluralistic (adjective): Characterized by the coexistence of diverse groups.

Collocations

religious pluralism
cultural pluralism
political pluralism
foster pluralism

Example sentences

"Democratic societies rely on political pluralism to ensure that diverse viewpoints can participate in governance." Political philosophy

Memory hook

PLURAL-ism = embracing PLURAL (many) viewpoints in one society. Pluralism = many groups coexisting harmoniously.

When not to use

Do not confuse with mere diversity; diversity is the factual presence of differences, while pluralism is the constructive engagement with that diversity.

Fun facts

In medieval times, 'pluralism' was considered a corrupt practice where bishops held multiple dioceses at once to collect extra revenue without doing the work!