uniformitarianism
noun
uni·for·mi·tar·i·an·ismˌyü-nə-ˌfȯr-mə-ˈter-ē-ə-ˌni-zəm 
:a geologic doctrine that processes acting in the same manner as at present and over long spans of time are sufficient to account for all current geological features and all past geological changes comparecatastrophism
Examples ofuniformitarianism in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the WebOne of these was the shift away fromuniformitarianism: the idea that the same forces that exist today existed in the past, and therefore that the current conditions on Earth sufficed to explain every geological phenomenon.—
Kathryn Schulz,The New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2024Each of these works critiqueduniformitarianism’s assumption of slow, gradual, evolutionary change, contrasted with neo-catastrophism, wars and revolutions being the social equivalents.—Thomas Reifer,San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Nov. 2022Ever since geology came into its own as a science in the 19th century, much of the field has been influenced by the concept ofuniformitarianism—that the present is the key to the past.—Riley Black,Smithsonian Magazine, 19 Apr. 2022This is reassuring, because too often historical scientists fixate onuniformitarianismto an almost irrational extent.—Razib Khan,Discover Magazine, 23 June 2013Substantiveuniformitarianism, and incorrect theory, should be abandoned.—Brian Romans,WIRED, 8 Jan. 2011
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Kathryn Schulz,The New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2024Each of these works critiqueduniformitarianism’s assumption of slow, gradual, evolutionary change, contrasted with neo-catastrophism, wars and revolutions being the social equivalents.—Thomas Reifer,San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Nov. 2022Ever since geology came into its own as a science in the 19th century, much of the field has been influenced by the concept ofuniformitarianism—that the present is the key to the past.—Riley Black,Smithsonian Magazine, 19 Apr. 2022This is reassuring, because too often historical scientists fixate onuniformitarianismto an almost irrational extent.—Razib Khan,Discover Magazine, 23 June 2013Substantiveuniformitarianism, and incorrect theory, should be abandoned.—Brian Romans,WIRED, 8 Jan. 2011Word History
First Known Use
1865, in the meaning definedabove
Rhymes foruniformitarianism
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Cite this Entry
“Uniformitarianism.”Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/uniformitarianism. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
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uniformitarianism
noununi·for·mi·tar·i·an·ismˌyü-nə-ˌfȯr-mə-ˈter-ē-ə-ˌniz-əm
:a principle in geology that states that processes going on in nature at the present time can explain geological changes in the past
More from Merriam-Webster onuniformitarianism
Britannica.com:Encyclopedia article aboutuniformitarianism
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