Etymology
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sensationalism (n.)

1846 in philosophy, "theory that sensation is the only source of knowledge and ideas;" 1865 in reference to journalism, "writing or language that aims to excite the feelings," from sensational + -ism. Sensation novel is attested by 1856 (Wilkie Collins's often are cited in early examples).

Sensation novels, novels that produce their effect by exciting and often improbable situations, by taking as their groundwork some dreadful secret, some atrocious crime, or the like, and painting scenes of extreme peril, high-wrought passion, etc. [Century Dictionary]

Entries linking to sensationalism

sensational (adj.)

1840, "of or pertaining to sensation or the senses, implying perception through the senses;" 1863, in reference to a literary or artistic work, "aiming at violently excited effects, intended to excite violent emotions;" from sensation in its secondary sense. Related: Sensationalistic; sensationalistically.

-ism 

word-forming element making nouns implying a practice, system, doctrine, etc., from French -isme or directly from Latin -isma, -ismus (source also of Italian, Spanish -ismo, Dutch, German -ismus), from Greek -ismos, noun ending signifying the practice or teaching of a thing, from the stem of verbs in -izein, a verb-forming element denoting the doing of the noun or adjective to which it is attached. For distinction of use, see -ity. The related Greek suffix -isma(t)- affects some forms.

updated on May 04, 2022

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Dictionary entries near sensationalism

senryu

Sens

sensate

sensation

sensational

sensationalism

sensationalist

sensationalize

sense

senseless

senses

© 2001-2023 Douglas Harper