# relativism

/ˈɹɛɫətɪˌvɪzəm/ (US) · /ɹɪlˈætɪvˌɪzəm/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/relativism
Updated: 2026-10-13

## Definition

the idea that there is no single truth that applies to everyone. Instead, what is considered right, wrong, or true depends on a person's culture, history, or situation.

For teachers: the philosophical doctrine that knowledge, truth, and morality exist in relation to culture, society, or historical context, and are not absolute. Often contrasted with objectivism or universalism.

## Examples

- Cultural relativism suggests we should respect different traditions without judging them.
- The professor argued that moral relativism makes it difficult to establish a universal code of human rights.
- Critics of postmodern thought often argue that extreme relativism undermines the very possibility of objective scientific inquiry by reducing all claims to mere matters of perspective.

## Usage notes

- Frequently paired with qualifying adjectives such as 'cultural', 'moral', or 'historical'.

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