Fatalism
/ˈfeɪtəlɪzəm/
nounC1
Definition
Fatalism means believing that what will happen is already decided and that people cannot change it. It is the idea that our future is fixed and that trying to change it is not useful. People who believe in fatalism think that events happen for a reason and are outside of human control.
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See It in Action
The belief that future events are fixed and cannot be changed
- •She accepted her illness with fatalism, believing it was her destiny.
- •Fatalism can make people feel powerless to change their lives.
- •Some cultures have strong fatalism beliefs about life and death.
A general attitude of accepting things as they come without trying to change them
- •His fatalism stopped him from trying to improve his job situation.
- •Fatalism can sometimes lead to a calm acceptance of difficult events.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "fatalism" like "luck," but instead of good or bad chance, it means everything is already planned and cannot be changed.
- ✓Picture a river flowing to the sea—no matter what you do, the river must follow its path.
- ✓It's the feeling when you think, "No matter what I try, things will happen the way they are meant to."
- ✓Sounds like "FATE-uh-liz-um" → imagine a "fate" book where your life story is already written and cannot be erased.
- ✓Think of stories where characters cannot escape their destiny, like in Greek myths where fate controls their lives.
- ✓NOT like "choice" (where you decide what happens)—fatalism means you cannot change what will happen.
- ✓NOT like "hope" (expecting good things to happen)—fatalism can feel like giving up control.
- ✓NOT like "chance" (random events)—fatalism says events are fixed, not random.
Try Other Words
- •Determinism: the idea that all events are caused by previous events (Use when emphasizing cause and effect rather than acceptance)
- •Predestination: belief that fate is decided by a higher power before birth (Use in religious or spiritual contexts)
- •Acceptance: the act of agreeing with a situation (Use when focusing on calm acceptance without the idea of fixed fate)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "fate" (what is meant to happen) + suffix "-alism" (a belief or system)
- •Etymology: From Latin "fatum" meaning "that which is spoken" or "destiny," combined with "-ism" which forms nouns of belief
- •Historical development: Used since the 17th century to describe the belief that destiny controls life
- •Modern usage: Used in philosophy, religion, and everyday talk to describe belief in unchangeable fate or attitude of acceptance
Reflect & Connect
•How might believing in fatalism affect the choices people make in their daily lives?
•Can fatalism be helpful in some situations, or does it mostly limit people? Why?
Fill in the blanks
1.People with fatalism believe that no matter what actions they take, the ___ is already decided.
2.A person showing fatalism might feel ___ to change their future or improve their situation.
3.Fatalism is different from hope because it does not ___ that things can get better.
4.When someone has fatalism, they often ___ difficult news without trying to change it.
5.Fatalism is not the same as chance because it assumes events are ___, not random.
6.In stories, fatalism often means characters cannot ___ their destiny.
7.Fatalism can sometimes lead to ___ acceptance of problems instead of trying to fix them.