You use individualism to refer to the behaviour of someone who likes to think and do things in their own way, rather than imitating other people.
He is struck by what he calls the individualism of American officers.
Synonyms: independence, self-interest, originality, self-reliance More Synonyms of individualism
2. uncountable noun
Individualism is the belief that economics and politics should not be controlled by the state.
...the strong individualism in their political culture.
individualism in British English
(ˌɪndɪˈvɪdjʊəˌlɪzəm)
noun
1.
the action or principle of asserting one's independence and individuality; egoism
2.
an individual quirk or peculiarity
3. another word for laissez faire (sense 1)
4. philosophy
the doctrine that only individual things exist and that therefore classes or properties have no reality
Compare Platonism, realism (sense 5)
individualism in American English
(ˌɪndəˈvɪdʒuəlˌɪzəm)
noun
1.
individual character; individuality
2.
an individual peculiarity
3.
the doctrine that individual freedom in economic enterprise should not be restricted by governmental or social regulation; laissez faire
4.
the doctrine that the state exists for the individual and not the individual forthe state
5.
the doctrine that self-interest is the proper goal of all human actions; egoism
6.
a.
action based on any of these doctrines
b.
the leading of one's life in one's own way without conforming to prevailing patterns
Derived forms
individualist (ˌindiˈvidualist)
noun, adjective
individualistic (ˌindiˌvidualˈistic)
adjective
Word origin
Fr individualisme
Examples of 'individualism' in a sentence
individualism
She knew that rampant individualism was shallow and unsatisfactory.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
There is a danger of the radical individualism of our society meaning that whole sectors dismiss other whole sectors.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
After a decade of rampant individualism, our politicians have at last begun to realize that collective action is the only way to save the planet.
Lockspeiser, Jerry & Gear, Jackie Thorsons Organic Wine Guide (1991)
American prosperity was based on rugged individualism and self-reliance, on business enterprise and on minimising the weight of government on both citizen and industry.
Grenville, J. A. S. The Collins History of the World in the 20th Century (1994)
The answer, of course, lies in a problem that always confronts methodological individualism in its attempts to deal with structural features of social relationships.
Hindess, Barry Choice, Rationality, and Social Theory (1988)
In other languages
individualism
British English: individualism NOUN
You use individualism to refer to the behaviour of someone who likes to think and do things in their own way.
He is struck by what he calls the individualism of these officers.
American English: individualism
Brazilian Portuguese: individualismo
Chinese: 个人主义
European Spanish: individualismo
French: individualisme
German: Individualismus
Italian: individualismo
Japanese: 個人主義
Korean: 개인주의
European Portuguese: individualismo
Latin American Spanish: individualismo
(noun)
Definition
egotism
He is stuck with what he calls the individualism of officers.