What does "existentialism" mean?
A twentieth-century philosophical movement emphasizing the uniqueness of each human existence in freely making its self-defining choices.
Existentialism
/ˌɛɡzɪˈstɛnʃəlɪzəm/ noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A twentieth-century philosophical movement emphasizing the uniqueness of each human existence in freely making its self-defining choices.
- Grammar: existentialism is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: existential philosophy, art, atomism, authenticity emphasis.
- Useful contrasts: determinism, essentialism, noumenalism.
- Usage evidence: How can one explain the concept of "existentialism"?
How to use "existentialism"
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Meaning check
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Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "existentialism" in a final draft.
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Before you rely on this definition
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
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Check whether "existentialism" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
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Final meaning check
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Definitions
Noun
- 1 A twentieth-century philosophical movement emphasizing the uniqueness of each human existence in freely making its self-defining choices. uncountable
"The heyday of existentialism occurred in the mid-twentieth century."
- 2 (philosophy) a 20th-century philosophical movement chiefly in Europe; assumes that people are entirely free and thus responsible for what they make of themselves wordnet
- 3 The philosophical views of a particular thinker associated with the existentialist movement. countable
"Sartre's existentialism is atheistic, but the existentialism of Marcel is distinctly Christian."
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"How can one explain the concept of "existentialism"?"
Common questions
What is a synonym for "existentialism"?
Common synonyms include: existential philosophy, art, atomism, authenticity emphasis, existence precedes essence, existentialist philosophy.
How do you use "existentialism" in a sentence?
How can one explain the concept of "existentialism"?
How do you pronounce "existentialism"?
Pronounced /ˌɛɡzɪˈstɛnʃəlɪzəm/.
Etymology
Borrowed from French existentialisme.