Diogenes

American

[dahy-oj-uh-neez] / daɪˈɒdʒ əˌniz /

noun

412?–323 b.c., Greek Cynic philosopher.

Diogenes British

/ daɪˈɒdʒɪˌniːz /

noun

?412–?323 _bc , Greek Cynic philosopher, who rejected social conventions and advocated self-sufficiency and simplicity of life

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Diogenean adjective
Diogenic adjective

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But the statement that death is nothing to us comes from Epicurus, not Diogenes.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 17, 2025

Alexander allegedly sought Diogenes out, having heard of the man’s reputation for wisdom.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 17, 2025

From the ancient record it is not clear that Diogenes gave much thought to the subject of death.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 17, 2025

“Most of the album is sort of about me being a bit of a Diogenes about the ills of modernity while still celebrating them.”

From Salon • Nov. 7, 2025

We came upon an old woman sitting in her garden in a washtub like Diogenes.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023