monistic

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

mon•ism  (mon′iz əm, mō′niz əm), n. 

1. Philosophy
   • (in metaphysics) any of various theories holding that there is only one basic substance or principle as the ground of reality, or that reality consists of a single element. Cf. dualism (def. 2), pluralism (def. 1a).
   • (in epistemology) a theory that the object and datum of cognition are identical. Cf. pluralism (def. 1b).
2. Philosophy the reduction of all processes, structures, concepts, etc., to a single governing principle; the theoretical explanation of everything in terms of one principle.
3. Philosophy the conception that there is one causal factor in history;
   the notion of a single element as primary determinant of behavior, social action, or institutional relations.

• German Monismus. See mon-, -ism
• 1860–65

mon′ist, n. 
mo•nis•tic  (mə nis′tik, mō-), mo•nis′ti•cal, adj.  mo•nis′ti•cal•ly, adv.