Noun: sensationalism sen'sey-shu-nu,li-zum
- The journalistic use of subject matter that appeals to vulgar tastes
"the tabloids relied on sensationalism to maintain their circulation";
- luridness
- Subject matter that is calculated to excite and please vulgar tastes
"The tabloid's sensationalism boosted its sales but damaged its credibility"
- (philosophy) the ethical doctrine that feeling is the only criterion for what is good
"The hedonist's sensationalism led him to prioritize pleasure above all else";
- sensualism
- (philosophy) the doctrine that knowledge derives from experience
"Locke's sensationalism emphasized the role of sensory perception in understanding the world";
- empiricism, empiricist philosophy, phenomenalism
Derived forms: sensationalisms
See also: sensational, unsensational
Type of: content, journalese [informal], message, philosophical doctrine, philosophical theory, subject matter, substance
Encyclopedia: Sensationalism