Individualism

noun

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    The tendency for a person to act without reference to others, particularly in matters of style, fashion or mode of thought. countable, uncountable

    "He believes that self-improvement and its growing popularity are symptoms of what he calls individualism."

  2. 2
    the quality of being individual wordnet
  3. 3
    The moral stance, political philosophy, or social outlook that promotes independence and self-reliance of individual people, while opposing the interference with each person's choices by society, the state, or any other group or institution. countable, uncountable

    "[A]nd that one great and all-important occasion and provocative of these beliefs was actually the rise of self-consciousness — that is, the coming of the mind to a more or less distinct awareness of itself and of its own operation, and the consequent development and growth of Individualism, and of the Self-centred attitude in human thought and action."

  4. 4
    the doctrine that government should not interfere in commercial affairs wordnet
  5. 5
    The doctrine that only individual things are real. countable, uncountable
Show 2 more definitions
  1. 6
    a belief in the importance of the individual and the virtue of self-reliance and personal independence wordnet
  2. 7
    The doctrine that nothing exists but the individual self. countable, uncountable

Etymology

Borrowed from French individualisme, equivalent to individual + -ism.

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