individualistic
Americanadjective
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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.
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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.
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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.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of individualistic
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.
Vocabulary lists containing individualistic
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.
Loneliness and social atomization play a large role in why individuals join extremist organizations be it ISIS/ISIL or right-wing paramilitaries and other antidemocracy and hate groups here in the U.S.
From Salon • Oct. 26, 2023
We ask that technology companies and organizations, as well as leaders, policymakers, and other individuals, join us in this pledge.
From The Verge • Jul. 18, 2018
While the psychology of collective behavior may explain why individuals join together once a riot is under way, it doesn’t explain why the riot would begin in the first place.
From Scientific American • Sep. 6, 2011
The resulting series of calls gives the impression that the sound is moving along the stream as successive individuals join the chorus and the first callers become quiet.
From Neotropical Hylid Frogs, Genus Smilisca by Duellman, William E.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
