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 show will feature the work of more than fifty musicians, poets, and philosophers from Russia and elsewhere. —News Desk, Artforum, 6 Mar. 2026

Read more from Hamilton on what a French philosopher’s analysis of 19th century American culture taught him about his own recovery. —Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 4 Mar. 2026

The film is part of a trilogy of films with the Slovenian philosopher Slavoj Zizek. —Zac Ntim, Deadline, 4 Mar. 2026

The American philosopher Eric Hoffer captured this logic in his 1951 book on mass movements, The True Believer. —Karim Sadjadpour, The Atlantic, 28 Feb. 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