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Definition of socrates

socrates

/ˈsɑːkrətiːz/
Soc · ra · tes
Adverb:Socratically
•
Adjective:Socratic
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socrates Lexical Profile

• noun

1

An influential ancient Greek philosopher from Athens (c. 470–399 BCE), teacher of Plato, and a foundational figure of Western moral philosophy and dialectical inquiry.

Example

"The philosophical dialogues of Plato preserve the teachings and questioning method of Socrates."

2

A person of exceptional wisdom or one who engages in persistent, probing questioning to uncover truth.

Example

"Every introductory philosophy seminar seems to have a budding Socrates eager to challenge the professor's assumptions."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for socrates

• Nearby Words

sockless
sockpuppet
soco falls
socrates
socratic
sod
soda

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed via Latin from the Ancient Greek personal name Sōkrátēs, composed of sôs ('safe, whole, unwounded') and krátos ('strength, power, rule').

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

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