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

The French philosopher Michel Foucault, the Bloomsbury writer Virginia Woolf, and the photographer Bettina Rheims all make more than one appearance here, as does Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet, a perennial fashion fave. — Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 4 Nov. 2026

Yet among philosophers and psychologists, introspection is a subject of active debate. — Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 4 Nov. 2026

Historians, scholars and philosophers are stepping in to offer some solutions and warnings. — Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026

The philosopher’s quest for knowledge, Carson cheekily concludes, is simply his pretext for chasing spinning tops. — Stacy Keltner, The Conversation, 30 Oct. 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