existentialism

noun
UK: /ˌeɡzɪˈstenʃəlɪzəm/
US: /ˌeɡzɪˈstenʃəlɪzəm/

  1. A philosophy that emphasizes individual freedom and responsibility.

    1. Existentialism focuses on human existence.
    2. According to existentialism, we create our own meaning in a meaningless world.

  2. A 20th-century philosophical movement emphasizing the existence of the individual person as a free and responsible agent determining their own development through acts of will.

    1. Existentialism became popular after World War II.
    2. The core tenet of existentialism is that existence precedes essence.

Synonyms

humanism

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "existentialism" in English means: A philosophy that emphasizes individual freedom and responsibility., A 20th-century philosophical movement emphasizing the existence of the individual person as a free and responsible agent determining their own development through acts of will..

The phonetic transcription of "existentialism" is /ˌeɡzɪˈstenʃəlɪzəm/ in British English and /ˌeɡzɪˈstenʃəlɪzəm/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "existentialism": humanism.

Example usage of "existentialism": "Existentialism focuses on human existence.". More examples on the page.