individualism

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in·di·vid·u·al·ism

 (ĭn′də-vĭj′o͞o-ə-lĭz′əm)
n.
1.
a. Belief in the primary importance of the individual and in the virtues of self-reliance and personal independence.
b. Acts or an act based on this belief.
2.
a. A doctrine advocating freedom from government regulation in the pursuit of a person's economic goals.
b. A doctrine holding that the interests of the individual should take precedence over the interests of the state or social group.
3.
a. The quality of being an individual; individuality.
b. An individual characteristic; a quirk.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

individualism

(ˌɪndɪˈvɪdjʊəˌlɪzəm)
n
1.the action or principle of asserting one's independence and individuality; egoism
2.an individual quirk or peculiarity
3. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) another word forlaissez faire1
4. (Philosophy)philosophy the doctrine that only individual things exist and that therefore classes or properties have no reality. ComparePlatonism,realism5
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

in•di•vid•u•al•ism

(ˌɪn dəˈvɪdʒ u əˌlɪz əm)

n.
1. a social theory advocating the liberty, rights, or independent action of the individual.
2. the principle or habit of independent thought or action.
3. the pursuit of individual rather than common or collective interests; egoism.
4. individual character; individuality.
5. an individual peculiarity.
6.Philos.
a. the doctrine that only individual things are real.
b. the doctrine or belief that all actions are determined by, or at least take place for, the benefit of the individual, not of society as a whole.
[1825–35]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

individualism

the practice of independence in thought and action on the premise that the development and expression of an individual character and personality are of the utmost importance.Cf. egoism. — individualist,n. — individualistic,adj.
See also:Self
the practice of independence in thought and action on the premise that the development and expression of an individual character and personality are of the utmost importance. Cf. egoism. —individualist,n.individualistic,adj.
See also:Attitudes
-Ologies & -Isms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.individualism - the quality of being individual; "so absorbed by the movement that she lost all sense of individuality"
trait - a distinguishing feature of your personal nature
singularity,uniqueness - the quality of being one of a kind; "that singularity distinguished him from all his companions"
2.individualism - a belief in the importance of the individual and the virtue of self-reliance and personal independence
belief - any cognitive content held as true
rugged individualism - individualism in social and economic affairs; belief not only in personal liberty and self-reliance but also in free competition
3.individualism - the doctrine that government should not interfere in commercial affairs
doctrine,ism,philosophical system,philosophy,school of thought - a belief (or system of beliefs) accepted as authoritative by some group or school
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

individualism

nounindependence,self-interest,originality,self-reliance,egoism,egocentricity,self-direction,freethinkingHe is stuck with what he calls the individualism of officers.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

individualism

noun
The set of behavioral or personal characteristics by which an individual is recognizable:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations

individualism

[ˌɪndɪˈvɪdjʊəlɪzəm]Nindividualismom
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

individualism

[ˌɪndɪˈvɪdʒuəlɪzəm]n
[behaviour] →individualismem
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

individualism

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

individualism

[ˌɪndɪˈvɪdjʊəˌlɪzm]nindividualismo
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995


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References in classic literature?
He is certainly anindividualist of the most pronounced type.
"Then you are anindividualist, a materialist, and, logically, a hedonist."
At a time when individuality is supposed to be shown most tellingly by putting boots on one's hands and gloves on one's feet, it is somewhat refreshing to come across a trueindividualist who feels the chasm between himself and others so deeply, that he must perforce adapt himself to them outwardly, at least, in all respects, so that the inner difference should be overlooked.
As for myself, I am anindividualist. I believe the race is to the swift, the battle to the strong.
You see, I am something of anindividualist. I just want one thing, and about the rest I simply don't care.
You would begin talking to some poor devil who had worked in one shop for the last thirty years, and had never been able to save a penny; who left home every morning at six o'clock, to go and tend a machine, and come back at night too tired to take his clothes off; who had never had a week's vacation in his life, had never traveled, never had an adventure, never learned anything, never hoped anything--and when you started to tell him about Socialism he would sniff and say, "I'm not interested in that--I'm anindividualist!" And then he would go on to tell you that Socialism was "paternalism," and that if it ever had its way the world would stop progressing.
Martin was mental, an incurableindividualist who found himself sufficient unto himself.
Fyne'sindividualist woman-doctrine, naively unscrupulous, flitted through my mind.
For the egotist is he who makes claims upon others, and theIndividualist will not desire to do that.
"On the contrary, he was a somewhat too graspingIndividualist. Howbeit, I enabled him to make good his defalcation--in the city they consider a defalcation made good when the money is replaced--and to go to New York.
In the son,individualist by temperament, once the science of colleges had replaced thoroughly the faith of conventicles, this moral attitude translated itself into a frenzied puritanism of ambition.
This study (developed in collaboration with Dalberg, with the support of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation), sub-divides the general Nigerian population into 6 unique personas, including: the vulnerable believers; resilient savers; dependentindividualists; skeptical cultivators; digital youth and confident optimists.

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