Words / B2

fi-LOS-uh-f-uh/fɪˈlɒsəfə/

A philosopher studies existence, knowledge, or ethics: an ancient philosopher; a moral philosopher. Thinker is wider; academic is a job rank. Name the philosopher the extract answers. Mix-up: philosophy is the subject (next entry). Do not call every opinionated columnist a philosopher.

Meaning

A person who studies or writes about the meaning of life, knowledge, or right and wrong.

Examples

• “The paper asked which philosopher the extract was answering.”
• “A public philosopher wrote the op-ed, which is the media sense.”

Good to know

a moral / political philosopher; the philosopher argues. Wider: thinker. Subject: philosophy. RS and history of ideas. Countable.

Near in meaning

thinker

New