obscurantismn.
/ˌɒbskjᵿˈrantɪz(ə)m/, U.S. /əbˈskjʊrənˌtɪz(ə)m/, /ɑbˈskjʊrənˌtɪz(ə)m/ Opposition to inquiry, enlightenment, or reform; the practice or principles of an obscurantist.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > want of knowledge, ignorance > intellectual ignorance > [noun] > opposition to enlightenment
obscurantism1824
obscurancy1825
obscurism1841
ignorantism1850
obscuranticism1927
1824 Times 10 Jan. It is difficult to conceive with what persevering zeal the directors of these establishments pursue a system of stupid obscurantism.
1848 J. C. Hare & A. W. Hare Guesses at Truth 2nd Ser. (ed. 2) 292 People have been sounding the alarm for many years past all over Europe against what they call obscurantism and obscurantists.
1860 G. P. Marsh Lect. Eng. Lang. 8 Continental liberty is threatened..now by Muscovite barbarism, and now by pontifical obscurantism.
1883 American 7 3 A victory of obscurantism and ignorance over enlightenment and progress.
1907 M. A. Canney tr. H. von Schubert Outl. Church Hist. xiii. 240 An odious compact between opportunism and obscurantism.
1955 Times 25 Aug. 14/1 More recently, however, the term has become associated with certain extremes and extravagances, so that now ‘fundamentalism’ is almost a synonym for obscurantism, and it is generally used as a term of opprobrium.
1990 Pen Internat. 40 i. 51 The cultural authorities are now very anxious to be à la page, after four decades of obscurantism.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1824