the philosophical doctrine that behaviour is not entirely determined by motives
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
in•de•ter•min•ism
(in′di tûr′mə niz′əm),USA pronunciation n. [Philos.]
in′de•ter′min•ist, n., adj.
in′de•ter′min•is′tic, adj.
- Philosophythe doctrine that human actions, though influenced somewhat by preexisting psychological and other conditions, are not entirely governed by them but retain a certain freedom and spontaneity.
- Philosophythe theory that the will is to some extent independent of the strength of motives, or may itself modify their strength in choice.
- in-3 + determinism 1870–75
in′de•ter′min•is′tic, adj.
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