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

My first-ever purchase on Amazon.com, when the site still sold only books, was of three copies of the philosopher Gilles Deleuze’s book about his contemporary Michel Foucault for a (very 1990s) reading group. —Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 16 July 2024

The space in the clubhouse López and Affeldt turned into a philosopher’s corner is now occupied by the Rogers twins, who along with Camilo Doval and Randy Rodríguez caught the ceremonial first pitches from each of the Wall of Fame inductees. —Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 13 July 2024

As the Roman Empire was crumbling, Hawley said, the Christian philosopher was writing about a City of God – a civilization built on the love of the Bible, family and labor. —Daniel Desrochers, Kansas City Star, 12 July 2024

Here, the installation’s main subject is Alain Locke, a leading philosopher of the Harlem Renaissance. —Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 12 July 2024

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