individualist

noun

in·​di·​vid·​u·​al·​ist ˌin-də-ˈvi-jə-wə-list 

-ˈvij-wə-,

-ˈvi-jə-list

1

: one that pursues a markedly independent course in thought or action

2

: one that advocates or practices individualism

individualist adjective

or individualistic

ˌin-də-ˌvi-jə-wə-ˈli-stik 

-ˌvij-wə-,

-ˌvi-jə-ˈli-

individualistically

ˌin-də-ˌvi-jə-wə-ˈli-sti-k(ə-)lē 

-ˌvij-wə-

-ˌvi-jə-ˈli-

adverb

Synonyms

• bohemian
• boho
• counterculturist
• deviant
• enfant terrible
• free spirit
• heretic
• iconoclast
• lone ranger
• lone wolf
• loner
• maverick
• nonconformer
• nonconformist

Examples of individualist in a Sentence

The school encourages children to be individualists.

an individualist who steadfastly refuses to do what everyone else is doing

Recent Examples on the Web

In a lot of respects, Kanye is the rap version of Kobe: a fierce individualist who grew up with relative class privilege and transcended that privilege through sheer ambition and courage. —Jayson Buford, Rolling Stone, 13 Feb. 2024

One hurdle is to persuade a city full of ornery individualists to pitch in. —Justin Davidson, Curbed, 12 Dec. 2023

Indeed, though often diminished as a fame-monger and a raging individualist, Madonna, in Gabriel’s view, pursues an autonomy that is always relational, that finds its highest, most generative expression in convergence. —Michelle Orange, The New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2023

One-Man Armies In contrast to Latin American society, the United States appears to have a very different balance between collectivist and individualist values. —Paul Hirschfield, Foreign Affairs, 29 July 2022

An individualist understanding of time very quickly goes in the direction of meaningless to me. —David Marchese David Marchesephotograph By Mamadi Doumbouya, New York Times, 14 May 2023

Sixteen rugged individualists brave the Alaskan wilderness in this new competition. —Los Angeles Times Staff, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2023

Mudd the Student One of the 11 multifaceted artists that comprise Balming Tiger, an alternative K-pop group and creative collective on the rise, Mudd the Student turned heads on the hugely popular rap competition show Show Me the Money with his signature shag mullet and individualist dress sense. —Monica Kim, Vogue, 17 Feb. 2023

Gomez is type 4, the individualist. —Alyssa Bailey, ELLE, 4 Nov. 2022

Word History

First Known Use

1826, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

individualist

noun

in·​di·​vid·​u·​al·​ist ˌin-də-ˈvij-(ə-)wə-ləst 

-ˈvij-əl-əst

1

: a person who thinks or behaves in an individual or independent way

2

: a supporter of individualism

individualist adjective

or individualistic

-ˌvij-(ə-)wə-ˈlis-tik 

-ˌvij-ə-ˈlis-tik

individualistically

-ˈlis-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb