philosopher

[ fi-los-uh-fer ]

noun

1. a person who offers views or theories on profound questions in ethics, metaphysics, logic, and other related fields.
2. a person who is deeply versed in philosophy.
3. a person who establishes the central ideas of some movement, cult, etc.
4. a person who regulates their life, actions, judgments, utterances, etc., by the light of philosophy or reason.
5. a person who is rationally or sensibly calm, especially under trying circumstances.
6. Obsolete. an alchemist or occult scientist.

philosopher

/ fɪˈlɒsəfə /

noun

1. a student, teacher, or devotee of philosophy
2. a person of philosophical temperament, esp one who is patient, wise, and stoical
3. (formerly) an alchemist or devotee of occult science
4. a person who establishes the ideology of a cult or movement

   the philosopher of the revolution

philosopher

1. Someone who engages in philosophy . Some examples of philosophers are Aristotle , Immanuel Kant , and Plato .

Other Words From

• phi·loso·pher·ship noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of philosopher¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English, variant of philosophre from Anglo-French ( Middle French philosophe, from Latin philosophus ); replacing Old English philosoph, from Latin philosophus, from Greek philósophos “philosopher,” equivalent to philo- philo- + soph(ía) “wisdom” ( -sophy ) + -os noun suffix

Example Sentences

Eventually, philosophers arrived at the superiority theory of humor, according to which every joke is, at its core, a hostile attack designed to affirm the comic’s dominance and assure the subjugation of its target.

From Salon

But despite attempts from the best scientists and philosophers, what color truly is, if it’s even anything tangible, remains elusive.

From Salon

Since ancient times, philosophers have pondered the seemingly simple question of whether animals experience emotions.

From Science Daily

In 1641, French philosopher René Descartes, writing his famous “Meditations on First Philosophy,” observed that a mind is fundamentally different from the body which contains it.

From Salon

I'm a philosopher who studies food and disgust, and I'm interested in how people react to new foods such as lab-grown meat, bugs and other so-called alternative proteins.

From Salon

Related Words

• theorist