reification

IPA/ˌriː.ɪ.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/
IPA/ˌriː.ɪ.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/

reification — noun

1. the act or practice of treating an abstract idea, quality, or feeling as if it w

1.名詞C2
釋義

the act or practice of treating an abstract idea, quality, or feeling as if it were a physical object that can be seen, touched, or handled

例句

Yael argued that the reification of love in films creates unrealistic expectations for real relationships.

reification of [abstract concept] in [domain]

Hassan criticized the reification of time in workplaces that treat each minute as profit.

同義詞
  • concretization

    closer to everyday usage; less critical in tone and more about making something specific rather than misleadingly treating an abstraction as real

  • objectification

    more specific — usually refers to treating a person as an object, with stronger negative moral connotation

  • hypostatization

    a narrower, highly technical philosophical term for treating an abstraction as a substance or entity

反義詞
  • abstraction

    the opposite process — moving from a concrete instance to a general idea

  • disembodiment

    the act of separating an idea from any physical or concrete form

文法句型

the reification + of + [abstract noun]

用法筆記

Frequently used in academic writing about philosophy, sociology, and linguistics. The word carries a critical tone — it often implies that treating an abstraction as a concrete thing is misleading or harmful. Typically uncountable; plural form (reifications) appears only in highly technical philosophical texts.

常見錯誤

❌The reification of the plan made it easier to understand.
✅The concretization of the plan made it easier to understand.
💡'Reification' is for treating abstractions AS real objects, not for making vague ideas clearer.
❌His reification of her as a perfect partner ended the relationship.
✅His idealization of her as a perfect partner ended the relationship.
💡'Reification' implies treating an abstraction as a physical thing, not treating a person as an ideal.