Stoic

[ stoh-ik ]

adjective

1. of or relating to the school of philosophy founded by Zeno, who taught that people should be free from passion, unmoved by joy or grief, and submit without complaint to unavoidable necessity.
2. sto·ic. Often sto·i·cal []. characterized by a calm, austere fortitude befitting the Stoics, especially in the face of trouble or loss; not giving in to one’s emotions:

   I'm normally pretty stoic about goodbyes.

   At first, the artist’s father remained stoic about her success, barely reacting when she won the award.

noun

1. a member or adherent of the Stoic school of philosophy.
2. sto·ic, a person who maintains or affects the mental attitude advocated by the Stoics:

   She's such a stoic—she's suffering, but she never says a word about it.

stoic

¹

/ ˈstəʊɪk /

noun

1. a person who maintains stoical qualities

adjective

1. See stoical
   a variant of stoical

Stoic

²

/ ˈstəʊɪk /

noun

1. a member of the ancient Greek school of philosophy founded by Zeno of Citium, holding that virtue and happiness can be attained only by submission to destiny and the natural law

adjective

1. of or relating to the doctrines of the Stoics

Other Words From

• non-Sto·ic adjective noun
• un·sto·ic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Stoic¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin Stōicus, from Greek Stōikós, equivalent to stō- (variant stem of stoá stoa ( def ) ) + -ikos -ic ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of Stoic¹

C16: via Latin from Greek stōikos, from stoa the porch in Athens where Zeno taught

Example Sentences

From the few photographs of him, we see a stout man with deep Indian features, a thick mustache and stoic face.

From The Daily Beast

Unlike many of those stoic audiences, Meerson has traveled extensively.

From The Daily Beast

I kneel with the journalist in the sand, my face stoic and yet terrified, crying, knowing that I can do nothing but wait.

From The Daily Beast

A stoic figure in a white floor length dress and razor-tailored bodice was accessorized with a giant bull skull as a mask.

From The Daily Beast

By comparison, being stereotyped as intellectual, stoic, and boring might seem like a nice problem to have.

From The Daily Beast

The philosophical sect to which he belonged was the Stoic, as plainly appears from many passages in his Geography.

From Project Gutenberg

Poseidonius the Stoic was a native of this place, a man of the most extensive learning among the philosophers of our times.

From Project Gutenberg

The whole phrase would thus be equivalent to ‘solemn doctors of the Stoic sect.’

From Project Gutenberg

Gozzi piqued himself on being what I may call a Stoic-Democritean philosopher.

From Project Gutenberg

However, it is due to him to say that he bore his surprises and pains with the uncomplaining resignation of a Stoic.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• aloof
• apathetic
• detached
• impassive
• indomitable
• long-suffering
• matter-of-fact
• sober
• unemotional
• unflappable