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Holistic

adjectivePronunciation: /hoʊˈlɪs.tɪk/

In Portuguese: Holístico

What does “Holistic” mean?

Characterized by the comprehension of parts as intimately interconnected and explicable only in reference to the whole.

Etymology

Formed from hol-, from Greek holos, "whole, entire", and the suffix -istic, as the adjective of holism. Holism was coined in 1926 by Jan Smuts, in the book Holism and Evolution, for the tendency of nature to form wholes that are more than the sum of their parts. The adjective spread from philosophy and biology to medicine, education and design, where it describes an approach that treats a subject as a connected whole.

Usage note

Spelled without w, although it is close in meaning to "whole"; wholistic is a variant many editors correct. In everyday use it often refers to alternative medicine.

Synonyms

  • integrated
  • comprehensive
  • systemic
  • all-embracing
  • integral

Word family

  • holism
  • holist
  • holistically

Rhymes with

  • realistic
  • artistic
  • optimistic
  • statistic
  • linguistic
  • simplistic
  • logistic
  • futuristic

Usage examples

Source editions

Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.

Words of the same theme

Antithesisnoun
A person, thing, or concept that represents the direct or exact opposite of another.
Treatisenoun
A formal, systematic, and comprehensive written work dealing methodically with the principles and evidence of a particular philosophical, scientific, or technical subject.
Maximnoun
A concise statement expressing a fundamental principle, general truth, or practical rule of conduct.
rhetoricnoun
The art of effective and persuasive speaking or writing, especially through strategic linguistic devices.
Tangibleadjective
Perceptible by the sense of touch or capable of being physically grasped and measured in concrete physical reality. It distinguishes concrete material products from virtual or intellectual entities.
Abyssnoun
A deep or seemingly bottomless chasm, either in physical geography or metaphorical psychological depth. It evokes feelings of unfathomable emptiness or existential peril.
aestheticsnoun
A set of principles concerned with the nature and appreciation of beauty, artistic taste, and style.
Affectnoun
An expressed or experienced emotion, feeling, or visceral response to a stimulus in psychology and philosophy.
Agapenoun
A selfless, unconditional, and altruistic form of love often associated in theology with divine charity.
Ambiguitynoun
The quality of being open to more than one interpretation; inexactness or uncertainty of meaning.
Ambiguousadjective
Open to more than one interpretation; lacking definitive clarity or certainty in meaning, intention, or moral alignment.

Also from these editions: terms

Equationnoun
A complex statement or problem involving balancing multiple interdependent factors, variables, or meanings.
Mazenoun
A complex network of interconnected paths, passages, or obstacles designed to puzzle and challenge navigation.
Discursiveadjective
Proceeding by reasoned argument or sequential exposition rather than by immediate visual intuition.
vocationnoun
A strong innate inclination or sense of purpose toward a particular career, craft, or calling.
Synchronicitynoun
The simultaneous occurrence of events that appear meaningfully related yet lack a direct causal connection.
Decompositionnoun
The natural biological or chemical process of decay, breakdown, or disintegration into constituent elements.
recipientnoun
The person who receives something. In communication, the one to whom a message is addressed and who interprets it, as opposed to the sender who composes it.
iconnoun
A simplified image that represents a thing by resembling it. In semiotics, a sign that signifies through likeness; in digital interfaces, a small picture that stands for an object or a function.
Stigmanoun
A mark of social disgrace, shame, or prejudice associated with a particular circumstance, trait, or behavior.
symbolismnoun
The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities, and the set of meanings that a form, an image or an object carries beyond its literal sense.
Desaturationnoun
The progressive loss or removal of chromatic intensity, rendering a color closer to a neutral gray.
Regenerativeadjective
Relating to or capable of renewing, restoring, or reforming biological vitality and structural equilibrium.

Also from these editions: concepts

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Cite this entry

“Holistic”. Agency Wiki, Agency Brasil. Published on November 11, 2026. https://www.agencybrasil.com/en/wiki/dictionary/holistic