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

Judith Butler, a renowned American philosopher and gender studies scholar, has long promoted and expanded upon the idea that all gender is performative. —Ashleigh N. Deluca, Parents, 24 Sep. 2025

His father, Simon, was from Russia — he was jailed during the Russian Revolution in 1917 for being a capitalist — and his mother, Marie, was a descendant of German philosopher Moses Mendelssohn. —Chris Koseluk, HollywoodReporter, 24 Sep. 2025

The bigger problem was that the new notions of the philosopher-revolutionaries didn’t actually work. —Paul Kingsnorth, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025

Path to practical use Pinhole imaging, first described by philosopher Mozi in the 4th century BC, offered unlimited depth and no distortion. —Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 19 Sep. 2025

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