STRUCTURALISM

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does structuralism mean? 

• STRUCTURALISM (noun)
  The noun STRUCTURALISM has 3 senses:

1. linguistics defined as the analysis of formal structures in a text or discourse

2. an anthropological theory that there are unobservable social structures that generate observable social phenomena

3. a sociological theory based on the premise that society comes before individuals

  Familiarity information: STRUCTURALISM used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• STRUCTURALISM (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Linguistics defined as the analysis of formal structures in a text or discourse

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

structural linguistics; structuralism

Hypernyms ("structuralism" is a kind of...):

linguistics (the scientific study of language)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An anthropological theory that there are unobservable social structures that generate observable social phenomena

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

structural anthropology; structuralism

Hypernyms ("structuralism" is a kind of...):

theory (a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world; an organized system of accepted knowledge that applies in a variety of circumstances to explain a specific set of phenomena)

Holonyms ("structuralism" is a part of...):

anthropology (the social science that studies the origins and social relationships of human beings)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A sociological theory based on the premise that society comes before individuals

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

structural sociology; structuralism

Hypernyms ("structuralism" is a kind of...):

theory (a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world; an organized system of accepted knowledge that applies in a variety of circumstances to explain a specific set of phenomena)

Holonyms ("structuralism" is a part of...):

sociology (the study and classification of human societies)