Simple Definition of philistine

from our Learner's Dictionary

philistine

noun

variants or Philistine

ˈfɪləˌstiːn

British

ˈfɪləˌstaɪn

plural philistines

formal + disapproving : a person who does not understand or care about art or culture

They're just a bunch of philistines who don't care if the city's orchestra goes bankrupt.

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“Philistine.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/philistine. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.

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