philosopher

noun

phi·​los·​o·​pher fə-ˈlä-s(ə-)fər 

1

a

: a person who seeks wisdom or enlightenment : scholar, thinker

b

: a student of philosophy

2

a

: a person whose philosophical perspective makes meeting trouble with equanimity easier

b

: an expounder of a theory in a particular area of experience

c

: one who philosophizes

Examples of philosopher in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Some of the most famous intellectuals who benefited and enriched the Committee’s discussions are Leo Strauss (1899–1973), Hannah Arendt (1906-1975), Allan Bloom (1930-1992), and Saul Bellow (1915-2005): political philosophers, theorists, novelists, and a classicist. —Alejandro Antonio Chafuen, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024

This is a moment that philosophers have warned us about for years. —Kate Crawford, WIRED, 23 Dec. 2024

Clever lawyers, philosophers, politicians and others can come up with arguments that justify nearly anything. —Alan M. Dershowitz, New York Daily News, 22 Dec. 2024

Thus Trajan’s father enjoyed the patronage of the emperor Vespasian, an Italian, but also followed in the footsteps of prominent Spaniards like the philosopher and courtier Seneca. —Jeffrey E. Schulman / Made By History, TIME, 20 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English philosophe, philosophre, from Anglo-French, from Latin philosophus, from Greek philosophos, from phil- + sophia wisdom, from sophos wise

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing philosopher

• philosopher's stone

Kids Definition

philosopher

noun

phi·​los·​o·​pher fə-ˈläs-(ə-)fər 

1

a

: a person who seeks wisdom or enlightenment : scholar, thinker

b

: a student of philosophy

2

: a person who is calm and patient when faced with trouble