intellectualism

[in-tl-ek-choo-uh-liz-uh m]

See more synonyms for intellectualism on Thesaurus.com

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.

Origin of intellectualism

First recorded in 1820–30; intellectual + -ism

Related formsin·tel·lec·tu·al·ist, nounin·tel·lec·tu·al·is·tic, adjectivein·tel·lec·tu·al·is·ti·cal·ly, adverbnon·in·tel·lec·tu·al·ism, nouno·ver·in·tel·lec·tu·al·ism, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for intellectualist

brain, philosopher, sage, scholar, sophist, casuist, mastermind, mind, student, theorist

Examples from the Web for intellectualist

Historical Examples of intellectualist

We may note at once, however, that it is not an ‘intellectualist’ ideal.
The Legacy of Greece
Various
Theory is a possession of the theorist, intellect of the intellectualist.
Human Nature and Conduct
John Dewey
Your intellectualist is not to be blamed if he fails to write as a sentimentalist.
The Ordeal of Richard Feverel
George Meredith
Since Meredith is an intellectualist, we naturally ask what may be his philosophy.
The Ordeal of Richard Feverel
George Meredith
You are no longer an intellectualist, but a voice of France.
Atlantic Classics, Second Series
Henry C. Merwin

British Dictionary definitions for intellectualist

intellectualism

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 Formsintellectualist, 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

Word Origin and History for intellectualist

intellectualism

1829; see intellectual + -ism. Probably based on German Intellektualismus (said by Klein to have been coined 1803 by Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph von Schelling (1775-1854) from Late Latin intellectualis). In English, originally with reference to the doctrines of Leibnitz.