philosophy

noun

phi·​los·​o·​phy fə-ˈlä-s(ə-)fē How to pronounce philosophy (audio)
plural philosophies
Synonyms of philosophynext
1
a(1)
: all learning exclusive of technical precepts and practical arts
(2)
: the sciences and liberal arts exclusive of medicine, law, and theology
a doctor of philosophy
(3)
: the 4-year college course of a major seminary
b(1)
archaic : physical science
(2)
: ethics
c
: a discipline comprising as its core logic, aesthetics, ethics, metaphysics, and epistemology
2
a
: pursuit of wisdom
b
: a search for a general understanding of values and reality by chiefly speculative rather than observational means
c
: an analysis of the grounds of and concepts expressing fundamental beliefs
3
a
: a system of philosophical concepts
b
: a theory underlying or regarding a sphere of activity or thought
the philosophy of war
4
a
: the most basic beliefs, concepts, and attitudes of an individual or group
b
: calmness of temper and judgment befitting a philosopher

Synonyms

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of philosophy in a Sentence

There's plenty of blame to go around: poor regulation, eight years of a failed Republican economic philosophy, Wall Street-friendly Democrats who helped stymie reform, misguided bipartisan efforts to promote home ownership, Wall Street greed, corrupt CEOs, a botched rescue effort, painfully fallible central bankers. — Daniel Gross, Newsweek, 9 Mar. 2009
Broadly speaking, philosophy has three concerns: how the world hangs together, how our beliefs can be justified, and how to live. — Jim Holt, New York Times Book Review, 15 Feb. 2009
Almost none of the kids were older than twenty-five, as if there were a sell-by date on radical social philosophy, a legal age limit after which one must surrender lofty ideals and shave off all dreadlocks. — Matthew Power, Harper's, March 2008
In their mission statement, the editors bragged of their firm commitment to equality and social justice, but their philosophy didn't prevent them from summoning Lindsey to perform all their menial tasks. — Kim Wong Keltner, The Dim Sum of All Things, 2004
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The philosophy boils down to a simple goal: avoiding aging. — Maggie O'Neill, Verywell Health, 21 Mar. 2025 Embrace Simplicity One of the most defining aspects of Finnish culture is a deep appreciation for simplicity and modesty — a mindset summed up by the Finnish philosophy of sisu, meaning quiet determination and resilience. — David Nikel, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025 If your design philosophy leans towards maximizing style and space, the Gardyn Home Kit 2.0 is your vertical gardening soulmate. — Bailey Berg, Architectural Digest, 20 Mar. 2025 In turn, the philosophy of wakon yosai (Japanese spirit, Western learning) was developed, whereby ideas and concepts – like baseball – could be imported, but should be approached in a Japanese way. — Jamie Barton, CNN, 17 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for philosophy

Word History

Etymology

Middle English philosophie, from Anglo-French, from Latin philosophia, from Greek, from philosophos philosopher

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Time Traveler
The first known use of philosophy was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing philosophy

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Cite this Entry

“Philosophy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/philosophy. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

philosophy

noun
phi·​los·​o·​phy fə-ˈläs-(ə-)fē How to pronounce philosophy (audio)
plural philosophies
1
: the study of the basic ideas about knowledge, truth, right and wrong, religion, and the nature and meaning of life
2
: the philosophical teachings or principles of a person or group
Greek philosophy
3
: the general principles of a field of study or activity
the philosophy of history
4
: someone's basic beliefs about the way people should live

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