an old doctrine, now discarded, that the earth was created and has subsequently been shaped by sudden divine acts which have no logical connection with each other rather than by gradual evolutionary processes
2. Also called: neo-catastrophism
a modern doctrine that the gradual evolutionary processes shaping the earth have been supplemented in the past by the effects of huge natural catastrophes
Compare uniformitarianism, gradualism (sense 2)
Derived forms
catastrophist (caˈtastrophist)
noun
catastrophism in American English
(kəˈtæstrəˌfɪzəm)
noun
1.
the former theory that geologic changes are caused in general by sudden upheavalsrather than gradually
see also uniformitarianism
2.
an outlook envisioning imminent catastrophe
Derived forms
catastrophist (caˈtastrophist)
noun, adjective
Examples of 'catastrophism' in a sentence
catastrophism
In contrast, the rest of the right offered "catastrophism": the conviction that the Republic could be overthrown only by violence.
Blinkhorn, Martin (ed) Fascists and Conservatives (1990)