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

Many philosophers and statisticians have also critiqued the logic and assumptions behind the argument and the choice of reference class (which observers should include). —Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2025

Philosophical questions had not usually been regarded as illegitimate or meaningless—not, at least, by philosophers. —Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025

Political philosopher Germaine de Staël opened her salon to a diverse group of men and women; Thérésia Cabarrus, who had helped royalists escape France, was married to a former Jacobin, Jean-Lambert Tallien, and also worked in favor of political reconciliation. —Time, 21 Oct. 2025

In the eighteenth century, the concept took a turn, when philosophers connected it to the natural world. —Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 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