̷ ̷ˈ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷əˌnizəm noun
( -s )
Usage: usually capitalized
: the synthetic philosophy of Spencer that has as its central idea the evolution of the cosmos from relative simplicity to relative complexity through the operation of mechanical forces with the acme of evolution being the equilibration of these forces after which dissolution begins and the cosmos goes back to the ultimate state from which evolution started