relativist
/ˈrɛl.ə.tɪ.vɪst/ IELTSAcademic
noun
A person who believes that truth, right and wrong, or value depends on context, culture, or point of view. A relativist does not always think there is one fixed answer for everyone.
- My professor is a relativist about morality.
- He is a relativist on cultural values.
- Some critics call her a relativist.
Adinary Nuance
A relativist is not just someone who is open-minded. The word means they believe truth or morality can change with context. It is different from open-minded, which only means willing to consider other views. It is also different from subjective, which describes something based on personal feeling, not a whole belief system.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- người theo thuyết tương đối
- Spanish
- relativista
- Chinese
- 相对主义者
- Japanese
- 相対主義者
- Korean
- 상대주의자
Etymology
Relativist comes from relative, from Latin relativus, plus the suffix -ist. It appeared in English in the late 19th century in philosophy and debate.
Common phrases
moral relativistcultural relativista relativist viewrelativist philosophy
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is relativist a common word?
- It is common in academic writing, especially in philosophy, sociology, and cultural studies.
- What is the difference between relativist and open-minded?
- Open-minded means willing to hear other views. Relativist means believing truth or values depend on context.
- Can I use relativist in everyday speech?
- Yes, but it sounds formal and academic. People use it more in essays and debates.
- Is relativist usually negative?
- Often, yes. Critics use it to say someone avoids fixed standards or clear rules.