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Definition of existentialism

existentialism

/ˌɛɡ.zɪˈstɛn.tʃəˌlɪz.əm/
ex · is · ten · tial · ism
Adjective:existentialist
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existentialism Lexical Profile

existentialism Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A philosophical and literary movement that emphasizes the existence of the individual person as a free and responsible agent determining their own development and meaning through acts of the will in an otherwise meaningless or absurd universe.

Example

"Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir were central figures in twentieth-century French existentialism."

Antonyms
View all antonyms for existentialism

Word Nuance & Usage

Often confused with 'nihilism'; while nihilism rejects all inherent meaning in life, existentialism asserts that individuals must actively create their own meaning and purpose through free choices.

• Nearby Words

existence
existent
existential
existentialism
existentialist
existentially
existing

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the 1940s from French 'existentialisme' (coined by philosopher Gabriel Marcel and popularized by Jean-Paul Sartre) or German 'Existentialismus', ultimately rooted in Late Latin 'existentia' ('existence').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Existentialism. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/existentialism
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