philosopher

noun

phi·​los·​o·​pher fə-ˈlä-s(ə-)fər 

1

a

: a person who seeks wisdom or enlightenment : scholar, thinker

b

: a student of philosophy

2

a

: a person whose philosophical perspective makes meeting trouble with equanimity easier

b

: an expounder of a theory in a particular area of experience

c

: one who philosophizes

Examples of philosopher in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For years, Brown has cultivated a reputation as the league’s resident philosopher-king, masking questionable judgment behind a wall of academic posturing. — Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2026

Despite widespread skepticism, the idea that only an AI philosopher could teach another AI proper ethics and pass on the secrets of silicon wisdom proved an irresistible draw for a large segment of the technical community. — Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2026

Such questions, in fact, may not be the right ones to ask about the man variously described as a teacher, philosopher, maverick mystic, and enlightened person. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2026

John teaches at a small, leafy college by day, while by night working on a book about rationalist philosopher Spinoza and dating his beautiful colleague Becca (Sofia Boutella), a professor of psychology who has a son with whom John gets along well. — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 4 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English philosophe, philosophre, from Anglo-French, from Latin philosophus, from Greek philosophos, from phil- + sophia wisdom, from sophos wise

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing philosopher

• philosopher's stone

Kids Definition

philosopher

noun

phi·​los·​o·​pher fə-ˈläs-(ə-)fər 

1

a

: a person who seeks wisdom or enlightenment : scholar, thinker

b

: a student of philosophy

2

: a person who is calm and patient when faced with trouble