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

Last year, a group of philosophers and computer scientists published a report urging AI companies to start testing their systems for evidence of consciousness and to devise policies for how to treat the systems should this happen. —Mariana Lenharo & Nature Magazine, Scientific American, 6 Aug. 2025

In the words of one of the early internet’s greatest philosophers, leave Brittany alone. —Brian Moylan, Vulture, 6 Aug. 2025

The trend, Simon May, a philosopher and the author of The Power of Cute, told me, might have been born of a postwar rejection of overt aggression: After World War II, cute aesthetics were one way that Japan revamped its public-facing image. —Valerie Trapp, The Atlantic, 4 Aug. 2025

For example, a number of ancient Greek philosophers, most notably Pythagoras, advocated for a vegetarian diet. —Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 4 Aug. 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