NEW Learning Center For Kids Try It Now

intellectualism

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

noun

devotion to intellectual pursuits.
the exercise of the intellect.
excessive emphasis on abstract or intellectual matters, especially with a lack of proper consideration for emotions.
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.

QUIZZES

CAN YOU ACE THIS QUIZ ABOUT “COMPLIMENT” VS. “COMPLEMENT”?

Take this quiz to see if you really know the difference between “compliment” and “complement"!
Question 1 of 11
“Compliment” and “complement” had a shared meaning a long time ago, but today they are no longer interchangeable.
True
False
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of intellectualism

First recorded in 1820–30; intellectual + -ism

OTHER WORDS FROM intellectualism

Words nearby intellectualism

intellection, intellective, intellectronics, intellectual, intellectual property, intellectualism, intellectuality, intellectualization, intellectualize, intellectually handicapped, intelligence
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for intellectualism

British Dictionary definitions for intellectualism

intellectualism
/ (ˌɪntɪˈlɛktʃʊəˌlɪzəm) /

noun

development and exercise of the intellect
the placing of excessive value on the intellect, esp with disregard for the emotions
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

Derived forms of intellectualism

intellectualist, noun, adjectiveintellectualistic, adjectiveintellectualistically, adverb
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