philosopher

[ fi-los-uh-fer ]
/ fɪˈlɒs ə fər /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR philosopher ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a person who offers views or theories on profound questions in ethics, metaphysics, logic, and other related fields.
a person who is deeply versed in philosophy.
a person who establishes the central ideas of some movement, cult, etc.
a person who regulates his or her life, actions, judgments, utterances, etc., by the light of philosophy or reason.
a person who is rationally or sensibly calm, especially under trying circumstances.
Obsolete. an alchemist or occult scientist.

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Origin of philosopher

before 900; Middle English, variant of philosophre < Anglo-French (Middle French philosophe < Latin philosophus); replacing Old English philosoph < Latin philosophus < Greek philósophos philosopher, equivalent to philo- philo- + soph(ía) wisdom (see -sophy) + -os noun suffix

OTHER WORDS FROM philosopher

phi·los·o·pher·ship, noun

Words nearby philosopher

philopena, philoprogenitive, philos., philosophaster, philosophe, philosopher, philosopher king, philosopher kings, philosopher's stone, philosopher-king, philosophers' stone
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to philosopher

theorist, logician, sage, savant, sophist

Example sentences from the Web for philosopher

British Dictionary definitions for philosopher

philosopher
/ (fɪˈlɒsəfə) /

noun

a student, teacher, or devotee of philosophy
a person of philosophical temperament, esp one who is patient, wise, and stoical
(formerly) an alchemist or devotee of occult science
a person who establishes the ideology of a cult or movementthe philosopher of the revolution
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

Cultural definitions for philosopher

philosopher

Someone who engages in philosophy. Some examples of philosophers are Aristotle, Immanuel Kant, and Plato.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.