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

Before Aristotle, ancient Greek philosophers used techne interchangeably with episteme, the term for pure, theoretical knowledge. —Michaëla De Lacaze Mohrmann, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2025

Experts say its resident could have been the famed natural philosopher and naval leader Pliny the Elder, who commanded the fleet of 70 ships at the nearby Roman port at Misenum. —Jacqui Palumbo, CNN, 12 Dec. 2024

Whiz up in an elevator to your Madame de Staël Suite, rich and regal, as the former home of French writer and philosopher, Madame de Staël. —Lewis Nunn, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024

What was the Christmas star Religious texts give reports of a particular star, the Star of Bethlehem, which guided the prophets and religious philosophers of the time, Throop said. —Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 5 Dec. 2024

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