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

Examples of philosopher in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

One highlight is a stirring essay on the poet-philosopher Friedrich Hölderlin by Kate Wagner, architecture critic at The Nation. — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2026

The first was given by Italian philosopher Maurizio Ferraris, the author of Manifesto of New Realism (2012). — Bartolomeo Sala, The Dial, 29 Sep. 2026

Austria, Vienna, Statue of Thucydides the Greek philosopher in front of Parliament building. — Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 26 Sep. 2026

However, neuroscientists and other members of the natural sciences as well as philosophers continue to try to nail down how consciousness accounts for attributes that collectively define us as humans — and that might define a future AI. — Keith Tidman, Baltimore Sun, 24 Sep. 2026

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

• philosopher's stone

Kids Definition

philosopher

noun

phi·​los·​o·​pher fə-ˈläs-(ə-)fər 

1

a

: a person who seeks wisdom or enlightenment : scholar, thinker

b

: a student of philosophy

2

: a person who is calm and patient when faced with trouble