existentialism
nounUK /ˌeɡ.zɪˈsten.ʃəl.ɪ.zəm/
US /ˌeɡ.zɪˈsten.ʃəl.ɪ.zəm/
A way of thinking that says people are free to choose who they become and what their life means.
In philosophy class, we read a short book about existentialism and talked about making our own choices.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A belief that people create their own purpose through actions rather than being given one.
Her art reflects existentialism because she paints people deciding their own paths.
3. A literary and artistic movement that focuses on individual freedom and anxiety.
Many novels after the war explored existentialism through lonely, thoughtful characters.
4. The idea that existence comes before any fixed essence or nature.
The teacher explained existentialism by saying we exist first and then define ourselves.