1 individualist | Definition of individualist

individualist

noun
in·​di·​vid·​u·​al·​ist | \ ˌin-də-ˈvij-wə-list How to pronounce individualist (audio) , -ˈvi-jə-wə-, -ˈvi-jə-list\

Definition of individualist

1 : one that pursues a markedly independent course in thought or action
2 : one that advocates or practices individualism

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Other Words from individualist

individualist or individualistic \ ˌin-​də-​ˌvij-​wə-​ˈli-​dtik How to pronounce individualistic (audio) , -​ˌvi-​jə-​wə-​ , -​ˌvi-​jə-​ˈli-​ \ adjective
individualistically \ ˌin-​də-​ˌvij-​wə-​ˈli-​sti-​k(ə-​)lē How to pronounce individualistically (audio) , -​ˌvi-​jə-​wə-​ , -​ˌvi-​jə-​ˈli-​ \ adverb

Examples of individualist in a Sentence

The school encourages children to be individualists. an individualist who steadfastly refuses to do what everyone else is doing

Recent Examples on the Web

Though witches have most often been treated throughout history as evil in both fiction and in real life, sentiments began to change in the 19th century as anticlerical, individualist values took hold across Europe. Pam Grossman, The Atlantic, "The Wizard of Oz Invented the ‘Good Witch’," 25 Aug. 2019 The real Paine was so much more compelling — a thin Quaker, an individualist with a big heart, who lived her life as far from a silly Texas stereotype as anyone could have. Michael Granberry, Dallas News, "In searching for the next ‘Hamilton,’ the makers of the musical ‘Oswald’ traverse the JFK minefield," 23 Aug. 2019 Decades of American male bravado, of Hemingway woodsmen and Clint Eastwood cowboys, of rugged individualists driving manly trucks alone, have given us the suicidal wreckage of American masculinity. Bruce Barcott, New York Times, "Even in Hemingway’s Woods, Sometimes a Man Needs to Cry," 2 Aug. 2019 The result is a communitarian version of the old individualist fairy tale: the nation as a pristine and consensual community, unsullied by coercion or conquest, which might have a history but doesn’t really have a politics. Daniel Luban, The New Republic, "The Man Behind National Conservatism," 26 July 2019 Is his idol the communitarian Edmund Burke or the individualist John Locke? Daniel Akst, WSJ, "Conservative Iconoclast Reihan Salam Takes the Helm," 20 June 2019 Whatever the interpretation, the symbolic nature of the American flag’s design may echo the country’s individualist foundations. Claire Wolters, National Geographic, "Flag Day's long—and surprising—history explained," 14 June 2019 Professor Fiss faults me for committing the individualist heresy of focusing on individual rather than collective effects of affirmative action. Noah Feldman, The New York Review of Books, "Arguing Affirmative Action," 7 Feb. 2019 Most of us are more comfortable remembering a textbook America, the one of rugged individualists and lofty ideals. Rinker Buck, WSJ, "‘Black Flags, Blue Waters’ Review: To Live and Die a Pirate King," 26 Sep. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'individualist.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of individualist

1826, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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More Definitions for individualist

individualist

noun

English Language Learners Definition of individualist

: a person who does things without being concerned about what other people will think

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