individualism

[ in-duh-vij-oo-uh-liz-uhm ]

noun

1. a social theory advocating the liberty, rights, or independent action of the individual.
2. the principle or habit of or belief in independent thought or action.
3. the pursuit of individual rather than common or collective interests; egoism.
4. individual character; individuality.
5. an individual peculiarity.
6. Philosophy.
   1. the doctrine that only individual things are real.
   2. the doctrine or belief that all actions are determined by, or at least take place for, the benefit of the individual, not of society as a whole.

individualism

/ ˌɪndɪˈvɪdjʊəˌlɪzəm /

noun

1. the action or principle of asserting one's independence and individuality; egoism
2. an individual quirk or peculiarity
3. another word for laissez faire
4. philosophy the doctrine that only individual things exist and that therefore classes or properties have no reality Compare Platonism realism

individualism

1. A view that stresses the importance and worth of each person. In economics , it is the doctrine that individuals best serve the public interest by pursuing their own self-interest. For example, the businessman who expands his company to increase his profits also creates jobs for many people and thereby serves the public interest. ( See laissez-faire .)

Other Words From

• over·indi·vidu·al·ism noun
• super·indi·vidu·al·ism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of individualism¹

First recorded in 1825–35; individual + -ism

Example Sentences

“Off With His Head” also has fun juxtaposing the individualism of American culture with the way your Indian parents raised you.

From Los Angeles Times

The trick to fixing climate anxiety is to fix individualism, she said.

From Los Angeles Times

Acknowledge climate anxiety — climate grief, for some — and fix the individualism that feeds it.

From Los Angeles Times

These tools of indoctrination relentlessly churn out manufactured ignorance and a shallow notion of self-interest, promoting a depoliticized notion of individualism.

From Salon

This narrative is reinforced by the individualism that U.S. culture leans hard into.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• individuality