What does creationism mean?
Creationism is the belief that the universe, Earth, and living things came into being through direct acts of divine creation, typically as narrated in a sacred text, rather than through natural processes like evolution alone. The term covers a range of positions: young-earth creationists hold that this occurred recently, within roughly ten thousand years, while old-earth creationists accept an ancient universe but still attribute origins to God's deliberate action. Most prominent in the United States, creationism has been at the center of enduring public debates over school curricula, most famously culminating in the U.S. Supreme Court's 1987 ruling against mandating its equal treatment with evolution in public science classrooms. Adherents are known as creationists, and related movements include creation science and intelligent design, though these are distinct positions. The word is standard and largely neutral in register, appearing frequently in journalism, philosophy of religion, and educational policy discussions.
nounThe belief that the universe and living organisms originate from specific acts of divine creation, as described in a sacred text, rather than by natural processes such as evolution.
- The belief, based on a literal reading of scripture, that God created the universe and all living things in their present form, rejecting or questioning evolutionary theory.
- More broadly, any doctrine holding that humanity, life, or the cosmos originated through deliberate divine creative acts.
"The school board's decision to teach creationism alongside evolution sparked a national debate."
"A 2019 survey found that roughly forty percent of American adults lean toward some form of creationism over purely naturalistic explanations for human origins."
"The philosopher distinguished between strict biblical literalists and those who accept an ancient universe yet still identify as adherents of creationism."
Rarely pluralized; the plural appears mainly in scholarly writing when contrasting distinct doctrinal varieties of creationism.
"Scholars distinguish among several creationisms across the world's religious traditions."
In 1987, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that teaching creationism in public school science classes was unconstitutional — making it one of the few doctrines with its own landmark legal case.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of creationism
The word derives from Latin "creatio" (a creating, production), from the verb " creare," meaning to create or produce, combined with the English suffix "-ism," denoting a doctrine or system of belief. Its roots trace back to the Proto-Indo-European root *ker-, meaning to grow. Cognates sharing this origin include "creation," "creature," and "recreation." While forms relating to divine creation have existed for centuries, "creationism" itself emerged as a named doctrinal position in the 19th century, gaining widespread currency during the 20th-century debates over the teaching of evolution.
Related word forms
How creationism is actually used
Creationism is primarily used in discussions of religion, education policy, and science; it carries strong connotations tied to debates over evolution and is often treated as a contested term. It encompasses a spectrum of views — from young-earth creationism to old-earth variants — so writers should avoid assuming all believers share identical positions. The term is standard and neutral in academic and journalistic register, though some prefer more specific labels like "creation science" or "intelligent design," which are distinct positions.
Easily confused with creationism
"Creation" is the act or process of bringing something into existence (or the created world itself), while "creationism" specifically names the religious doctrine that God directly created the universe and life.