individualistic

American  

[in-duh-vij-oo-uh-lis-tik] / ˌɪn dəˌvɪdʒ u əˈlɪs tɪk /

adjective

1. prioritizing the pursuit of individual interests or rights rather than common or collective ones.

   In our culture we seem to be moving toward a predominantly individualistic mindset, where egoism is in and altruism is out.

2. showing great independence or individuality in thought or action.

   Never has the nation produced a more brilliantly argumentative, individualistic, or opinionated group of politicians than our founders.

3. Philosophy. of or relating to a belief that all actions are determined by, or for the benefit of, the individual, not society as a whole.

   The attempt to construct a new social order on the basis of individualistic doctrine was bound to fail, because the shared customs and practices that make up the common life of society are too valuable.

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Other Word Forms

• individualistically
  adverb
• nonindividualistic
  adjective
• overindividualistic
  adjective
• overindividualistically
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of individualistic

individualist ( def. ) + -ic

Explanation

A person who believes strongly that each of us should be just who we are has an individualistic outlook. If you don't like conformity, then you're individualistic too. Many people believe that our society tries to make us all the same — to like the same food and wear the same clothes. Folks who reject that idea are individualistic. They believe that the most radical thing you can do is be yourself, however different that self may happen to be. The U.S. was known as country of individualists for many years. It's where individualistic people came to invent themselves however they liked. Some say, though, that recently it's grown less individualistic, as people are more afraid to seem different or unique.

Example Sentences

Individualistic western societies are built on the idea that no one knows our thoughts, desires or joys better than we do.

From Salon • Sep. 5, 2020

Individualistic Arabs, as well, are nervously concerned about disappearing into the straitjacket of Nasser's one-man rule.

From Time Magazine Archive

The movement in question is known to history as the Liberal, Rationalistic, Humanitarian, or Individualistic departure.

From An Inquiry Into The Nature Of Peace And The Terms Of Its Perpetuation by Veblen, Thorstein

Individualistic in his approach, the frontier farmer realized the need for neighborly support and appreciated its offer.

From The Fair Play Settlers of the West Branch Valley, 1769-1784 A Study of Frontier Ethnography by Wolf, George D.

Individualistic possession was emphasised; yet the simultaneous setting up of the absolute monarchies of the sixteenth century really made their ultimate capture by the Socialist party more possible.

From Mediaeval Socialism by Jarrett, Bede

Related Words

• self-absorbed
• selfish