CultureAugust 30, 2026
melioristic
mee-lee-uh-RIS-tik
Definition
Relating to the belief that the world, or society, can be improved through human effort and purposeful action.
Etymology
Derived from the Latin 'melior', meaning 'better', combined with the suffix '-istic' indicating a characteristic belief or practice; it entered English in the late 19th century.
In the news
The author uses this term to describe a specific philosophical perspective that often motivates researchers who engage in causal inquiry to believe that understanding world events can lead to meaningful social improvement.
Interview – Hidemi Suganami
Read the full article ↗E-International Relations