What does nominalist mean?
A nominalist is a philosopher who holds that universals—categories such as “human,” “animal,” or “red”—are names or concepts rather than realities existing independently of particular things. The position is especially associated with medieval scholasticism, where nominalists challenged the realist claim that universal terms refer to shared entities or forms that exist beyond individual examples. The term is primarily philosophical and belongs to formal discussions in metaphysics, epistemology, theology, and intellectual history. In everyday English, it should not be used to mean someone concerned merely with names or terminology, because that interpretation obscures the word’s specific philosophical meaning. Related expressions include medieval nominalism, nominalist metaphysics, and scholastic nominalist. The adjective nominalistic is used when describing theories, arguments, or thinkers connected with this view.
A philosopher, especially in the medieval scholastic tradition, who maintains that universals are names or concepts rather than independently existing entities.
"The nominalist denied that a universal could exist apart from the particular things to which the universal applies."
A formal philosophical term, particularly associated with medieval and scholastic philosophy.
Of or relating to nominalism or to the view that universals are names rather than independently existing realities.
"The scholar presented a nominalist criticism of the argument from universals."
Less common than the noun and chiefly used in philosophical and historical writing.
The plural refers to philosophers who advocate nominalism.
"Medieval nominalists disagreed sharply with their realist counterparts."
A nominalist denies that the word “triangle” points to a single perfect triangle existing outside every triangle in the world.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of nominalist
The word is formed from nominal, meaning “of or relating to a name,” together with the suffix -ist, denoting an adherent or specialist. Its semantic development is closely connected with nominalism, the philosophical doctrine that treats universals as names for things rather than as independently existing realities. Related forms include nominalism, nominalistic, nominalize, and nominalization, all built on the same nominal stem.
Related word forms
How nominalist is actually used
Chiefly a formal term in philosophy, theology, and intellectual history. It is most strongly associated with the medieval debate over the status of universals and should not be confused with a person who merely regards a name or label as important.
Easily confused with nominalist
A nominalist is an advocate of nominalism, whereas nominal describes something functioning as a name or label rather than expressing a universal reality.