Diogenes

American  

[dahy-oj-uh-neez] / daɪˈɒdʒ əˌniz /

noun

1. 412?–323 b.c., Greek Cynic philosopher.

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Diogenes British  

/ daɪˈɒdʒɪˌniːz /

noun

1. ?412–?323 _bc , Greek Cynic philosopher, who rejected social conventions and advocated self-sufficiency and simplicity of life

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Other Word Forms

• Diogenean adjective
• Diogenic adjective

Example Sentences

From the ancient record it is not clear that Diogenes gave much thought to the subject of death.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 17, 2025

In a chapter entitled “A Lone Voice Against Slavery,” Ms. Kuin tries to cast Diogenes as a proto-abolitionist.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 17, 2025

One version of a well-known story about Diogenes tells of how the Cynic went through the streets of Athens holding a lamp, searching for an honest person.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 17, 2025

“Most of the album is sort of about me being a bit of a Diogenes about the ills of modernity while still celebrating them.”

From Salon • Nov. 7, 2025

So was Agrigentum, which, according to Diogenes Laertius, in the third century had a population of 800,000.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton