1. Plural of contextualist; people who believe that the meaning or truth of something depends on its context.
Usage: philosophy; linguistics
2. Scholars or theorists who emphasize the importance of historical, social, or cultural context in interpreting texts, ideas, or events.
Usage: academic; literary criticism

Examples

• Contextualists argue that a word's meaning shifts depending on the situation in which it is used.
• Many contextualists in philosophy reject the idea that truth is absolute and unchanging.
• Literary contextualists examine how a novel reflects the social conditions of its time.
• Contextualists believe that understanding historical events requires knowledge of their broader cultural setting.
• The debate between contextualists and universalists continues in epistemology.
• Contextualists in linguistics study how speakers adjust their language based on audience and setting.