Existentialism
noun /ɛɡˌzɪs.tenˈʃ(ə)l.ɪ.z(ə)m/ — The philosophy that existence precedes essence; freedom is absolute
Definition
A philosophical tradition centring on individual existence, freedom, and choice — insisting that existence precedes essence: we are not born with a fixed nature but create ourselves through choices.
Beyond the definition
The philosophy of radical freedom as burden. If existence precedes essence — if there is no predetermined self — then everything is possible and nothing is excused.
Origin & history
From 'existential' + '-ism'. Developed primarily by Søren Kierkegaard, then Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, and Albert Camus. The word was popularized in Paris in the 1940s.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
Sartre's existentialism: 'existence precedes essence' — you are not born with a nature; you choose it.
Existentialism is often taught badly: it is not just about freedom but about the anguish of freedom — the terror of being responsible for everything.
The existentialist rejection of bad faith: the refusal to pretend that choice is not always available.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Existentialism” when the meaning fits your context: A philosophical tradition centring on individual existence, freedom, and choice — insisting that existence precedes essence: we are not born with a fixed nature but create ourselves through choices.
Synonyms
existential philosophy, philosophy of existence, freedom philosophy
Antonyms
essentialism, determinism
Related words
Existentialism vs absurdism
Existentialism encourages people to forge their own purpose in a meaningless world. Absurdism suggests that because searching for meaning is futile, one should simply accept the absurdity.
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Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Alone in Vast Room
A person sits alone in a vast, empty, minimal room with a window overlooking a large, open landscape.
The emptiness and the freedom to define one's own space represent core existentialist themes: individual existence, freedom, and the capacity for self-creation.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Existentialism" mean?
Existentialism is noun meaning: The philosophy that existence precedes essence; freedom is absolute. A philosophical tradition centring on individual existence, freedom, and choice — insisting that existence precedes essence: we are not born with a fixed nature but create ourselves through choices.
Where does the word "Existentialism" come from?
From 'existential' + '-ism'. Developed primarily by Søren Kierkegaard, then Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, and Albert Camus. The word was popularized in Paris in the 1940s.