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

The second value is voice, the term we use to describe the desire for authentic, individualistic self-expression—for instance, the freedom to be oneself without judgment from others.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 20, 2025

Beyond my own square radius, I have seen an art world that is far less individualistic than those in other major cities — one oriented toward collaboration and joining forces to make something more meaningful.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 17, 2025

Its pseudo-futuristic vision is militaristic, stainless-steel fortified, masculinist, individualistic, and unforgiving.

From Slate • Mar. 15, 2025

Zuckerberg's former COO Sheryl Sandberg got a lot of grief, much of it well-deserved, for her "Lean In" book and its watered-down, individualistic approach to feminism.

From Salon • Jan. 17, 2025

No, he recognized himself, he recognized his hands and feet, the place where he lay and the Self in his breast, Siddhartha, self-willed, individualistic.

From "Siddhartha" by Hermann Hesse

Related Words

• self-absorbed
• selfish