individualist

noun

in·​di·​vid·​u·​al·​ist ˌin-də-ˈvi-jə-wə-list 

-ˈvij-wə-,

-ˈvi-jə-list

1

: one that pursues a markedly independent course in thought or action

2

: one that advocates or practices individualism

individualist adjective

or individualistic

ˌin-də-ˌvi-jə-wə-ˈli-stik 

-ˌvij-wə-,

-ˌvi-jə-ˈli-

individualistically

ˌin-də-ˌvi-jə-wə-ˈli-sti-k(ə-)lē 

-ˌvij-wə-

-ˌvi-jə-ˈli-

adverb

Synonyms

• bohemian
• boho
• counterculturist
• deviant
• enfant terrible
• free spirit
• heretic
• iconoclast
• lone ranger
• lone wolf
• loner
• maverick
• nonconformer
• nonconformist

Examples of individualist in a Sentence

The school encourages children to be individualists.

an individualist who steadfastly refuses to do what everyone else is doing

Recent Examples on the Web

Immigration has surged, and the United States has entered an individualist, conservative epoch. —Robert Petkoff Krish Seenivasan Quinton Kamara, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025

No other nation has more outstanding individualists. —Philipp Lahm, The Athletic, 24 Mar. 2025

The folly of swapping him out for Ibrahimovic, football’s most brash individualist outside of Cristiano Ronaldo, was exposed in less than a year. —Liam Twomey, The Athletic, 6 Feb. 2025

For nineteenth century individualists, essentialists, and naturalists, the point should be to walk for walking’s sake, not for fame or outward fitness or money. —The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 26 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1826, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for individualist

• dualist

Kids Definition

individualist

noun

in·​di·​vid·​u·​al·​ist ˌin-də-ˈvij-(ə-)wə-ləst 

-ˈvij-əl-əst

1

: a person who thinks or behaves in an individual or independent way

2

: a supporter of individualism

individualist adjective

or individualistic

-ˌvij-(ə-)wə-ˈlis-tik 

-ˌvij-ə-ˈlis-tik

individualistically

-ˈlis-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb