What does "philosophy" mean?
An academic discipline that seeks truth through reasoning rather than empiricism, often attempting to provide explanations relating to general concepts such as existence and rationality.
Philosophy
/fɪˈlɑ.sə.fi/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An academic discipline that seeks truth through reasoning rather than empiricism, often attempting to provide explanations relating to general concepts such as existence and rationality.
- Grammar: philosophy is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: acosmism, acoustics, aerophysics, aesthetics.
- Useful contrasts: practicality.
- Usage evidence: Your philosophy of life varies from mine.
How to use "philosophy"
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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 "philosophy" 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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Final meaning check
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Definitions
Noun
- 1 An academic discipline that seeks truth through reasoning rather than empiricism, often attempting to provide explanations relating to general concepts such as existence and rationality. uncountable
"Philosophy is often divided into five major branches: logic, metaphysics, epistemology, ethics and aesthetics."
- 2 a belief (or system of beliefs) accepted as authoritative by some group or school wordnet
- 3 A view or outlook regarding fundamental principles underlying some domain. countable
"a philosophy of government; a philosophy of education"
- 4 any personal belief about how to live or how to deal with a situation wordnet
- 5 A general principle (usually moral). countable
"As a matter of fact the Enlightment culture was based on a philosophy inspired to an ethical laicism whose aim was to create a better society based on principles such as solidarity, equality of rights and duties, and full freedom."
Show 6 more definitions
- 6 the rational investigation of questions about existence and knowledge and ethics wordnet
- 7 A comprehensive system of belief. countable
- 8 The love of wisdom. archaic, uncountable
- 9 A calm and thoughtful demeanor; calmness of temper. dated, uncountable
- 10 Synonym of small pica (especially in French printing). countable, dated, uncountable
"Although I prefer small pica. Or as its^([sic]) sometimes known, philosophy. – Small pica, or philosophy, she said. It sounds like the title of a novel. With a girl heroine."
- 11 A broader branch of (non-applied) science. archaic, countable
"natural philosophy"
Verb
- 1 To philosophize. archaic
"Plato hath (in my seeming) loved this manner of Philosophying, Dialogue wise in good earnest, that therby he might more decently place in sundry mouthes the diversity and variation of his owne conceits."
Antonyms
Example
"Your philosophy of life varies from mine."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "philosophy"?
Common synonyms include: acosmism, acoustics, aerophysics, aesthetics, agnosticism, anarcho-syndicalism.
How do you use "philosophy" in a sentence?
Your philosophy of life varies from mine.
How do you pronounce "philosophy"?
Pronounced /fɪˈlɑ.sə.fi/.
Etymology
From Middle English philosophie, Old French philosophie, and their source, Latin philosophia, from Ancient Greek φιλοσοφία (philosophía), from φίλος (phílos, “loving”) + σοφία (sophía, “wisdom”). By surface analysis, philo- + -sophy. Displaced Old English ūþwitegung.