Meaning & use

philosopher

noun·Academic

A person who studies or thinks deeply about fundamental questions of knowledge, existence, and ethics.

See it in a sentence

The ancient Greek philosopher Socrates taught his students by asking probing questions.

She spent her career as a philosopher writing about the nature of free will.

A note on using this word

Philosopher is often used loosely for anyone who reflects thoughtfully on life, beyond the formal academic profession.

Words with a similar meaning

thinker

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

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