spiritualism

noun

spir·​i·​tu·​al·​ism ˈspir-i-chə-wə-ˌli-zəm 

-i-chə-ˌli-, 

-ich-wə-ˌli-

1

: the view that spirit is a prime element of reality

2

a

: a belief that spirits of the dead communicate with the living usually through a medium

b

Spiritualism : a movement comprising religious organizations emphasizing spiritualism

spiritualist

ˈspir-i-chə-wə-list 

-i-chə-list, 

-ich-wə-list

noun

often Spiritualist

spiritualistic

ˌspir-i-chə-wə-ˈli-stik 

-i-chə-ˈli-, 

-ich-wə-ˈli-

adjective

Examples of spiritualism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Spiritualism was the popularization of clairvoyance, telepathy and mediums who claimed to communicate with the dead. —Rachel Treisman, NPR, 23 Apr. 2026

Our late colleague Asher Peres, someone with little respect for spiritualism, once met someone of the opposite persuasion. —Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 31 Mar. 2026

Brimming with spiritualism and sensuality, this neo-gothic story navigates the terrain between life and death, and between childhood and adulthood. —The New Yorker, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026

The consciousness of social reevaluation and rise, a social spiritualism. —Mark Richardson, Pitchfork, 3 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1749, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

spiritualism

noun

spir·​i·​tu·​al·​ism ˈspir-ich-(ə-)wə-ˌliz-əm 

-ich-ə-ˌliz-

: a belief that the spirits of the dead communicate with the living