Calvinism

noun

Cal·​vin·​ism ˈkal-və-ˌni-zəm How to pronounce Calvinism (audio)
: the theological system of Calvin and his followers marked by strong emphasis on the sovereignty of God, the depravity of humankind, and the doctrine of predestination
Calvinist noun or adjective
Calvinistic adjective
Calvinistically adverb

Examples of Calvinism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Annotations Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God: Annotated Jonathan Edwards’s sermon reflects the complicated religious culture of eighteenth-century America, influenced not just by Calvinism, but Newtonian physics as well. JSTOR Daily, 24 June 2024 Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God: Annotated Jonathan Edwards’s sermon reflects the complicated religious culture of eighteenth-century America, influenced not just by Calvinism, but Newtonian physics as well. JSTOR Daily, 24 June 2024 Robinson’s Calvinism holds out an earnest optimism about what awaits us in the afterlife, alongside a deep pessimism about our terrible brokenness here on earth. James Wood, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024 That sounds like a garbled version of Max Weber’s highly contestable claims about 17th-century Calvinism. Barton Swaim, WSJ, 3 June 2021

Word History

Etymology

John Calvin

First Known Use

circa 1570, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Calvinism was circa 1570

Dictionary Entries Near Calvinism

Cite this Entry

“Calvinism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Calvinism. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

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