monism Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the doctrine that reality consists of a single basic substance or element

WordNet

Mon"ism noun
Etymology
From Gr. single.
Definitions
  1. (Metaph.) That doctrine which refers all phenomena to a single ultimate constituent or agent; -- the opposite of dualism. ✍ The doctrine has been held in three generic forms: matter and its phenomena have been explained as a modification of mind, involving an idealistic monism; or mind has been explained by and resolved into matter, giving a materialistic monism; or, thirdly, matter, mind, and their phenomena have been held to be manifestations or modifications of some one substance, like the substance of Spinoza, or a supposed unknown something of some evolutionists, which is capable of an objective and subjective aspect.
  2. (Biol.) See Monogenesis, 1.

Webster 1913