operationalism

[ op-uh-rey-shuh-nl-iz-uhm ]

nounPhilosophy.
  1. the doctrine that the meaning of a scientific term, concept, or proposition consists of the operation or operations performed in defining or demonstrating it.

Origin of operationalism

1
First recorded in 1930–35; operational + -ism
  • Also op·er·a·tion·ism [op-uh-rey-shuh-niz-uhm] /ˌɒp əˈreɪ ʃəˌnɪz əm/ .

Other words from operationalism

  • op·er·a·tion·al·ist, noun
  • op·er·a·tion·al·is·tic, adjective

Words Nearby operationalism

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use operationalism in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for operationalism

operationalism

operationism (ˌɒpəˈreɪʃəˌnɪzəm)

/ (ˌɒpəˈreɪʃənəˌlɪzəm) /


noun
  1. philosophy the theory that scientific terms are defined by the experimental operations which determine their applicability

Derived forms of operationalism

  • operationalistic, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012