philosophy

noun

phi·los·o·phy fə-ˈlä-s(ə-)fē

plural philosophies

Synonyms of philosophy next

a(1)

: all learning exclusive of technical precepts and practical arts

(2)

: the sciences and liberal arts exclusive of medicine, law, and theology

a doctor of philosophy

(3)

: the 4-year college course of a major seminary

b(1)

archaic : physical science

(2)

: ethics

: a discipline comprising as its core logic, aesthetics, ethics, metaphysics, and epistemology

: pursuit of wisdom

: a search for a general understanding of values and reality by chiefly speculative rather than observational means

: an analysis of the grounds of and concepts expressing fundamental beliefs

: a system of philosophical concepts

: a theory underlying or regarding a sphere of activity or thought

the philosophy of war

: the most basic beliefs, concepts, and attitudes of an individual or group

: calmness of temper and judgment befitting a philosopher

Example Sentences

There's plenty of blame to go around: poor regulation, eight years of a failed Republican economic philosophy, Wall Street-friendly Democrats who helped stymie reform, misguided bipartisan efforts to promote home ownership, Wall Street greed, corrupt CEOs, a botched rescue effort, painfully fallible central bankers. —

Daniel Gross, Newsweek, 9 Mar. 2009

Broadly speaking, philosophy has three concerns: how the world hangs together, how our beliefs can be justified, and how to live. —

Jim Holt, New York Times Book Review, 15 Feb. 2009

Almost none of the kids were older than twenty-five, as if there were a sell-by date on radical social philosophy, a legal age limit after which one must surrender lofty ideals and shave off all dreadlocks. —

Matthew Power, Harper's, March 2008

In their mission statement, the editors bragged of their firm commitment to equality and social justice, but their philosophy didn't prevent them from summoning Lindsey to perform all their menial tasks. —

Kim Wong Keltner, The Dim Sum of All Things, 2004

Her degree is in philosophy and religion. The group eventually split over conflicting political philosophies. Her main cooking philosophy is to use only fresh ingredients. See More

Recent Examples on the Web Holmes previously talked to Bazaar.com about her personal fashion philosophy. —

Chelsey Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 17 May 2023 For Polt, philosophy and typewriters came together naturally with the 2015 release of his book. —

cincinnati.com, 10 May 2023 Buffett, 92, and Munger, 99, have led one of the world’s most profitable companies for nearly six decades, and that’s perhaps why their philosophy about achieving personal and professional success rings true for a lot of people. —

Prarthana Prakash, Fortune, 8 May 2023 For the uninitiated, the concept of growth hacking comes down to the simple philosophy that rapidly iterative, cost-light marketing tactics that can be repeated again and again can help drive insights and revenue for brands. —

Liz Giorgi, Forbes, 5 May 2023 Experts in philosophy and mathematics split into two camps and ceaselessly cite—often quite convincingly—arguments for their respective side. —

Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 4 May 2023 The gesture of giving a lei is also giving a part of your own self, a graciousness that's integral in the Hawaiian philosophy of aloha, or simply put, love and kindness. —

Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 1 May 2023 What is Permaculture? Permaculture, a portmanteau of permanent and agriculture, is a growing/gardening philosophy that focuses on agriculturally productive ecosystems that are based on—and have the diversity, stability, and resilience of—natural ecosystems. —

Elizabeth Waddington, Treehugger, 28 Apr. 2023 His subsequent return to philosophy propelled the discipline in an entirely new direction. —

David Edmonds, wsj.com, 14 Apr. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'philosophy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.