essentialist Definition
a person who believes that things have a set of characteristics that make them what they are, and that these characteristics are essential, inherent, and unchanging.
Using essentialist: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "essentialist" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
As an essentialist, he believed that gender roles were biologically determined.
Example
Essentialists argue that there are innate differences between men and women that explain gender disparities in the workplace.
Example
The essentialist view of race has been widely discredited by scientists.
essentialist Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for essentialist
Antonyms for essentialist
Phrases with essentialist
a feminist theory that asserts that there are innate differences between men and women that justify different treatment of the sexes
Example
Essentialist feminism argues that women's biology makes them inherently nurturing and caring.
the belief that language is an innate ability that humans are born with, rather than a learned skill
Example
The essentialist view of language suggests that children are born with an innate knowledge of grammar.
art that seeks to capture the essence or fundamental nature of its subject matter
Example
Essentialist art often features simplified forms and bold colors.
Summary: essentialist in Brief
An essentialist [ɪˈsɛnʃəlɪst] is someone who believes that things have inherent, unchanging characteristics that define them. This perspective is often applied to gender, race, and language, among other things. Essentialists argue that these characteristics are biologically determined and can justify different treatment of groups. Examples include 'As an essentialist, he believed that gender roles were biologically determined.'
