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Holist: meaning, definitions and examples

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holist

 

[ həʊˈlɪs.tɪk ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

philosophy approach

Holistic refers to an approach that considers the whole system rather than just the sum of its parts. This perspective is often applied in various fields such as medicine, education, and environmental studies, emphasizing the interconnectedness of different elements within a framework.

Synonyms

comprehensive, integrative, whole.

Examples of usage

  • Holistic health practices focus on mental and physical well-being.
  • The teacher used a holistic approach to address the students' diverse learning needs.
  • Environmental policies should take a holistic view of ecosystem management.

Translations

Translations of the word "holist" in other languages:

🇵🇹 holístico

🇮🇳 समग्रवादी

🇩🇪 ganzheitlich

🇮🇩 holistik

🇺🇦 цілісний

🇵🇱 holistyczny

🇯🇵 全体的な

🇫🇷 holistique

🇪🇸 holístico

🇹🇷 bütünsel

🇰🇷 전체론적인

🇸🇦 شامل

🇨🇿 holistický

🇸🇰 holistický

🇨🇳 整体的

🇸🇮 holističen

🇮🇸 heildrænn

🇰🇿 жүйелі

🇬🇪 ჰოლისტური

🇦🇿 holistik

🇲🇽 holístico

Etymology

The term 'holistic' derives from the Greek word 'holos,' meaning 'whole' or 'entire.' It was first introduced in the modern sense by Jan Smuts, a South African philosopher and statesman, in his 1926 book 'Holism and Evolution.' In this work, Smuts argued that the universe is not merely a collection of disparate parts but instead should be viewed as a cohesive whole. The concept gained popularity post-World War II, influencing various fields like psychology, medicine, and education, particularly in the 1960s and 1970s during the rise of alternative therapies and systems thinking. Today, 'holistic' is commonly used to describe approaches that consider multiple facets of a problem or situation, emphasizing interconnection and interdependence.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #40,580, this word is among the less frequently used terms in English. While interesting to know, it's not crucial for most English learners unless needed for specific purposes.