hedonist

American  

[heed-n-ist] / ˈhid n ɪst /

noun

1. a person whose life is devoted to the pursuit of pleasure and self-gratification.

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adjective

1. Also hedonistic of, relating to, or characteristic of a hedonist or hedonism.

Other Word Forms

• hedonistically
  adverb
• nonhedonistic
  adjective
• nonhedonistically
  adverb
• unhedonistic
  adjective
• unhedonistically
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of hedonist

First recorded in 1855–60; see origin at hedonism, -ist

Explanation

Your parents might want to visit the museum while you want to hike in the forest, but your brother, the hedonist, just wants to lounge by the hotel pool and eat cake. A hedonist values sensual pleasure above all else. Hedonist comes from the Greek word hedone "pleasure" and is related to hedys, which means "sweet." Although this noun did not make its first appearance until 1822, the word was created as a reference to an ancient Greek philosophical system known as the Cyrenaic school. The Cyrenaics taught that pleasure — particularly physical pleasure — is the greatest good. If you need some examples of modern day hedonists, think the many celebrities today who are only famous for going to parties.

Example Sentences

Honorable mention: The Accidental Hedonist, written with flair by one Kate Hopkins.

From Time Magazine Archive

Green's own dialectics were directed against the Sensationalist and Hedonist theories which used to be regarded as typical of English thought; and on them they acted as a powerful solvent.

From Recent Tendencies in Ethics by Sorley, William Ritchie

Doggie, bidden by the Hedonist of circumstance to up with his tail, felt like a scorpion.

From The Rough Road by Locke, William John

"An egoistic Hedonist," Parry was beginning, but Ellis cut him short.

From The Meaning of Good—A Dialogue by Dickinson, G. Lowes (Goldsworthy Lowes)

"Oh well," said Parry, "Bentham was only an egoistic Hedonist."

From The Meaning of Good—A Dialogue by Dickinson, G. Lowes (Goldsworthy Lowes)