environmentalism
/ɪnˌvaɪrənˈmentəlɪzəm/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪnˌvaɪrənˈmentəlɪzəm/ (ame, ipa) · /in-ˌvī-rə(n)-ˈmen-tə-ˌli-zəm -ˌvī(-ə)r(n)-/ (ame, mw)
environmentalism — noun
1. the belief that people should take action to protect the natural world from harm
the belief that people should take action to protect the natural world from harm caused by human activity and pollution
The growing popularity of environmentalism has led many companies to reduce their use of plastic packaging.
collocation: growing popularity of environmentalism
Priya joined a local environmentalism group that organises weekly beach clean-ups along the coast.
environmentalism group as countable modifier
Schools across the city now teach environmentalism as part of their science curriculum.
- conservationism
more narrowly focused on natural resources and wildlife rather than the broader political/social movement
- green movement
refers more to the organised political campaigns and activist groups than to the general belief system
- ecological activism
emphasises the hands-on protest and campaign aspect more than environmentalism as a broad philosophy
- environmental destruction
the opposite of protecting the environment
- pollution
the activity that environmentalism seeks to reduce
用法筆記
Frequently used as an uncountable noun referring to a social or political movement. Can appear attributively before another noun, as in 'environmentalism group' or 'environmentalism movement'. Often paired with terms like grassroots, corporate, or radical to indicate the type or scale.
常見錯誤
2. the theory that a person's surroundings and experiences, rather than their genet
the theory that a person's surroundings and experiences, rather than their genetic inheritance, are what mainly shape their behaviour, intellect, and personality
The study compared twins raised apart, providing strong support for environmentalism over genetic determinism.
collocation: support for environmentalism (academic context)
Dr. Okonkwo's research in developmental psychology leans toward environmentalism, emphasising the role of early childhood experiences.
- empiricism
a broader philosophical position that all knowledge comes from experience; environmentalism is a specific application to human development
- behaviourism
a psychological school that emphasises environment over internal mental states; overlaps with environmentalism but is narrower in scope
- hereditarianism
the opposing view that genetic inheritance is the primary factor in development
- nativism
the theory that certain abilities are innate rather than learned from the environment
用法筆記
A formal, technical term used mainly in academic psychology, education, and philosophy. Distinguish from sense 1 (ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION), which is the common everyday meaning. This sense is always contrasted with hereditarianism or nativism in scholarly debates.