intellectualism

American  

[in-tl-ek-choo-uh-liz-uhm] / ˌɪn tlˈɛk tʃu əˌlɪz əm /

noun

1. devotion to intellectual pursuits.

2. the exercise of the intellect.

3. excessive emphasis on abstract or intellectual matters, especially with a lack of proper consideration for emotions.

4. Philosophy.

   1. the doctrine that knowledge is wholly or chiefly derived from pure reason.

   2. the belief that reason is the final principle of reality.

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intellectualism British  

/ ˌɪntɪˈlɛktʃʊəˌlɪzəm /

noun

1. development and exercise of the intellect

2. the placing of excessive value on the intellect, esp with disregard for the emotions

3. philosophy

   1. the doctrine that reason is the ultimate criterion of knowledge

   2. the doctrine that deliberate action is consequent on a process of conscious or subconscious reasoning

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Other Word Forms

• intellectualist noun
• intellectualistic adjective
• intellectualistically adverb
• nonintellectualism noun
• overintellectualism noun

Etymology

Origin of intellectualism

First recorded in 1820–30; intellectual + -ism

Example Sentences

You’ll see how Howard University — a place where Black women banned from other universities for being Black or for being female were welcomed — became a crucible for their fiery intellectualism and activism.

From Washington Post

“It’s easy to hear that elevated British tone escaping the mouth of a gentlemanly Shakespearean actor and assume some elevated intellectualism,” he said, while acknowledging: “Criticism of its use is fair even if it just strikes a personal nerve — or if you’ve equated ‘Trek’ with more broader, family-friendly storytelling.

From Seattle Times

For the past two years, the MAGA-aligned think tank has hosted a choice selection of county sheriffs as honored fellows to fill their minds with frothy far-right intellectualism, hoping these humble, heavily armed servants will return home newly emboldened to implement proto-authoritarian policies in their local communities.

From Slate

Jewish intellectualism and works portraying an "un-German spirit" were purged.

From Salon

Which is to say, fields that were created to hold up Europe as this culture of intellectualism and enlightenment and freedom, and all these colonialist ideas.

From Slate