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
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The German philosopher Immanuel Kant had also given the mind a more important role. 
Andrea Wulf, The Atlantic, 11 Sep. 2022 Yuval Levin’s fantastic book A Time to Build introduced me to an old quotation by the Spanish philosopher Jose Ortega y Gasset. Mike Mcshane, Forbes, 16 Aug. 2022 German philosopher Immanuel Kant applied that logic to financial debt, pointing out that if borrowers didn’t feel obliged to repay their debt, lenders would stop lending, and the entire system would break down. Sarah Todd, Quartz, 8 June 2022 These essays by the late philosopher, who in 1998 predicted the coming of a Trump-like presidency, consider populism, democracy, economic inequality, climate change and more. New York Times, 11 May 2022 German philosopher Immanuel Kant developed the concept of an absolute, universal reason to act from duty. Ryan Liu, The Conversation, 24 Mar. 2022 Hundreds of people lined up Tuesday to pay tribute to Darya Dugina, 29, the daughter of right-wing Russian political philosopher Alexander Dugin, who was widely believed to be the intended target. John Bacon, USA TODAY, 25 Aug. 2022 Its current wartime form, though, is marked by its inclusiveness, argued Ukrainian political philosopher Volodymyr Yermolenko in a recent interview. Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 23 Aug. 2022 Daria Dugina, the daughter of pro-Putin political philosopher Alexander Dugin, was killed while leaving a music and culture festival when her SUV exploded. Anders Hagstrom, Fox News, 21 Aug. 2022 See More
Andrea Wulf, The Atlantic, 11 Sep. 2022 Yuval Levin’s fantastic book A Time to Build introduced me to an old quotation by the Spanish philosopher Jose Ortega y Gasset. Mike Mcshane, Forbes, 16 Aug. 2022 German philosopher Immanuel Kant applied that logic to financial debt, pointing out that if borrowers didn’t feel obliged to repay their debt, lenders would stop lending, and the entire system would break down. Sarah Todd, Quartz, 8 June 2022 These essays by the late philosopher, who in 1998 predicted the coming of a Trump-like presidency, consider populism, democracy, economic inequality, climate change and more. New York Times, 11 May 2022 German philosopher Immanuel Kant developed the concept of an absolute, universal reason to act from duty. Ryan Liu, The Conversation, 24 Mar. 2022 Hundreds of people lined up Tuesday to pay tribute to Darya Dugina, 29, the daughter of right-wing Russian political philosopher Alexander Dugin, who was widely believed to be the intended target. John Bacon, USA TODAY, 25 Aug. 2022 Its current wartime form, though, is marked by its inclusiveness, argued Ukrainian political philosopher Volodymyr Yermolenko in a recent interview. Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 23 Aug. 2022 Daria Dugina, the daughter of pro-Putin political philosopher Alexander Dugin, was killed while leaving a music and culture festival when her SUV exploded. Anders Hagstrom, Fox News, 21 Aug. 2022 See More 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
Kids Definition
philosopher
noun
phi·los·o·pher fə-ˈlä-sə-fər
1
: a person who studies ideas about knowledge, right and wrong, reasoning, and the value of things
2
: a person who takes misfortunes with calmness and courage
philosophers
noun
as in theorists
a person who expresses a theory in a particular area of experience a philosopher of freedom Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- theorists
- practitioners
- interpreters
- proponents
- ideologues
- gurus
- supporters
- promoters
- apostles
- idealogues
- exponents
- expounders
- champions
- deans
- advocates
- high priests
- doyens
- boosters
- grand old men
- backers