Naturalism is a theory in art and literature which states that people and things should be shown in a realistic way.
Synonyms: realism, authenticity, plausibility, verisimilitude More Synonyms of naturalism
naturalism in British English
(ˈnætʃrəˌlɪzəm, -tʃərə-)
noun
1.
a.
a movement, esp in art and literature, advocating detailed realistic and factual description, esp that in 19th-century France in the writings of Zola, Flaubert, etc
b.
the characteristics or effects of this movement
2.
a school of painting or sculpture characterized by the faithful imitation of appearances for their own sake
3.
the belief that all religious truth is based not on revelation but rather on the study of natural causes and processes
4. philosophy
a.
a scientific account of the world in terms of causes and natural forces that rejects all spiritual, supernatural, or teleological explanations
b.
the meta-ethical thesis that moral properties are reducible to natural ones, or that ethical judgments are derivable from nonethical ones
Compare naturalistic fallacy, descriptivism
5.
action or thought caused by natural desires and instincts
6.
devotion to that which is natural
naturalism in American English
(ˈnætʃərəlˌɪzəm; ˈnætʃrəˌlɪzəm)
noun
1.
action or thought based on natural desires or instincts
2. Literature and Art Etc
a.
faithful adherence to nature; realism; specif., the principles and methods of a group of 19th-cent. writers, including Émile Zola, Gustave Flaubert, and Guy de Maupassant, who believed that the writer or artist should apply scientific objectivity and precision in observing and depicting life, without idealizing, imposing value judgments, or avoiding what may be regarded as sordid or repulsive
b.
the quality resulting from the use of such realism
3. Ethics
the theory that distinctions between good and bad can be reduced to nonnormative or factual terms and statements, according to psychology, biology, etc.
4. Philosophy
the belief that the natural world, as explained by scientific laws, is all that exists and that there is no supernatural or spiritual creation, control, or significance
5. Theology
the doctrine that religion does not depend on supernatural experience, divine revelation, etc., and that all religious truth may be derived from the natural world
Examples of 'naturalism' in a sentence
naturalism
The pace is slow and measured and the performances have a heightened naturalism.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
These are not productions to which you turn for rigorous historical accuracy or gritty naturalism.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It still might be true, but the only position we have any reason to hold is that metaphysical naturalism is false.
The Times Literary Supplement (2011)
Once we reject methodological naturalism, we will have a truer and richer appraisal of the biblical witness and the world it signifies.
Christianity Today (2000)
Word lists with
naturalism
Art styles and movements
(noun)
Definition
a movement in art and literature advocating detailed realism
the closely observed naturalism of this superbly understated tale
Synonyms
realism
Sincere performances and gritty Boston settings add to the film's realism.
authenticity
plausibility
verisimilitude
Computer animation is costly at this level of visual verisimilitude.
factualism
Additional synonyms
in the sense of verisimilitude
Definition
the appearance of truth or reality
Computer animation is costly at this level of visual verisimilitude.