Meaning & use
existentialism
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Meaning
noununcountable
A philosophical movement that stresses individual freedom and the need to create your own meaning in life.
Grammar: Used without 'a' or 'an'; it names a broad set of ideas, not a single thing.
Patterns
- existentialism in literature
- a key figure in existentialism
- the rise of existentialism
In his lecture, he explained how existentialism grew out of the chaos of the twentieth century.
Many students find existentialism difficult because it rejects fixed answers.
Her novel is often read as an example of existentialism.
Common combinations
- French existentialism
- French existentialism became popular after World War II.
- the philosophy of existentialism
- The course covers the philosophy of existentialism in depth.
- a central theme of existentialism
- Freedom is a central theme of existentialism.
- existentialist thought
- His early work shows the influence of existentialist thought.
Synonyms and how they differ
- existentialist philosophy
- A more descriptive phrase; use it when you want to be clear that you mean the philosophical system.
Word family
- existentialist noun
- A person who follows or studies existentialism.
- existentialist adjective
- Relating to existentialism.
- existential adjective
- Concerned with human existence, especially its meaning and purpose.
- exist verb
- To be real or alive.
Commonly confused: existentialism or existential? existentialism or nihilism?
existentialism vs existential
This is an adjective meaning 'relating to existence'; 'existentialism' is the noun for the philosophical movement.
existentialism vs nihilism
Nihilism denies all meaning and values; existentialism says you can create your own meaning.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'existentialism' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Existentialism' is an uncountable noun for a philosophy, so it fits after 'believes in'. Option A needs the adjective 'existentialist', C misuses it as a physical quality, and D wrongly treats it as a verb.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “existentialism”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.