philistine

[fil-uh-steen, -stahyn, fi-lis-tin, -teen]

noun

1. (sometimes initial capital letter),  a person who is lacking in or hostile or smugly indifferent to cultural values, intellectual pursuits, aesthetic refinement, etc., or is contentedly commonplace in ideas and tastes.

   Synonyms: vulgarian, Babbitt

2. (initial capital letter),  a native or inhabitant of ancient Philistia.

adjective

1. (sometimes initial capital letter),  lacking in or hostile to culture.

   Synonyms: lowbrow

2. smugly commonplace or conventional.

3. (initial capital letter),  of or belonging to the ancient Philistines.

Philistine

/ ˈfɪlɪstɪˌnɪzəm, ˈfɪlɪˌstaɪn /

noun

1. a person who is unreceptive to or hostile towards culture, the arts, etc; a smug boorish person

2. a member of the non-Semitic people who inhabited ancient Philistia

adjective

1. (sometimes not capital) boorishly uncultured

2. of or relating to the ancient Philistines

Other Word Forms

• philistinism noun
• Philistinism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of philistine¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Late Latin Philistīnī (plural) < Late Greek Philistînoi < Hebrew pəlishtīm

Example Sentences

It’s only fair to say that the GOP hasn’t had a monopoly on philistine attacks on scientific research.

From Los Angeles Times

Lately, Anderson has been on a tear of using his perfectionist aesthetic to defend the act of ambition itself — to honor artisans who create masterpieces in a world of philistines.

From Los Angeles Times

One result of auteurism is books like this, which cast directors as larger-than-life characters making extraordinary art despite all the philistines around them.

From Los Angeles Times

And a good thing too, since in Paul’s own estimation, Barton boys are, with rare exception, a hopeless bunch of “philistines,” “reprobates,” “troglodytes,” “degenerates,” “hormonal vulgarians,” “fetid layabouts” and “snarling Visigoths.”

From Los Angeles Times

It’s a uniquely philistine movement, but its political consequences are its most troubling aspect.

From Los Angeles Times