intellectualism

[ in-tl-ek-choo-uh-liz-uhm ]

noun

1. devotion to intellectual pursuits.
2. the exercise of the intellect.
3. excessive emphasis on abstract or intellectual matters, especially with a lack of proper consideration for emotions.
4. Philosophy.
   1. the doctrine that knowledge is wholly or chiefly derived from pure reason.
   2. the belief that reason is the final principle of reality.

intellectualism

/ ˌɪntɪˈlɛktʃʊəˌlɪzəm /

noun

1. development and exercise of the intellect
2. the placing of excessive value on the intellect, esp with disregard for the emotions
3. philosophy
   1. the doctrine that reason is the ultimate criterion of knowledge
   2. the doctrine that deliberate action is consequent on a process of conscious or subconscious reasoning

Derived Forms

• ˌintelˌlectualˈistic, adjective
• ˌintelˈlectualist, nounadjective
• ˌintelˌlectualˈistically, adverb

Other Words From

• intel·lectu·al·ist noun
• intel·lectu·al·istic adjective
• intel·lectu·al·isti·cal·ly adverb
• nonin·tel·lectu·al·ism noun
• over·intel·lectu·al·ism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of intellectualism¹

First recorded in 1820–30; intellectual + -ism

Example Sentences

Another potential mistake for composers is to create music driven purely by highbrow intellectualism or a desire to experiment past the point of viability.

From Salon

The video’s creator is 25-year-old Margarita Mouka — @aquariuscat444 on TikTok, where she frequently posts about Kafka, integrating his work, his likeness and his life story into her online persona of romantic intellectualism.

From New York Times

Conspiracy theories are a lazy person's intellectualism.

From Salon

As a rule, the country’s artistic output leans toward intellectualism rather than the virtuosity embodied by high-level athletes.

From New York Times

The art world is all about elitist intellectualism — it’s a gross generalization, but it is true.

From Los Angeles Times