intellectualism
|in-tel-lec-tu-al-ism|
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/ˌɪntəˈlɛktʃuəlɪzəm/
🇬🇧
/ˌɪntəˈlɛktʃʊəlɪzəm/
emphasis on intellect
Etymology
'intellectualism' originates from English, specifically formed from the word 'intellectual' plus the suffix '-ism', where 'intellectual' ultimately derives from Latin 'intellectus' meaning 'understanding' and the suffix '-ism' comes from Greek 'ismos' meaning 'practice or system'.
'intellectual' came from Latin 'intellectus' (past participle of 'intelligere' meaning 'to understand'), passed into Anglo-French and Middle English as 'intellectual', and later English formed 'intellectualism' by adding the suffix '-ism' to denote a system or doctrine.
Initially it referred to matters relating to the intellect or the quality of being intellectual; over time it evolved to refer more specifically to a doctrine, attitude, or cultural tendency that emphasizes intellectual pursuits or theoretical reasoning.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the belief in or high value placed on intellectual pursuits, learning, and the life of the mind.
The university has long promoted intellectualism among its students.
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Noun 2
an emphasis on abstract theory, reasoning, or intellectual analysis rather than on practical application.
Critics argued that the movement's intellectualism led it to ignore real-world problems.
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Noun 3
a tendency to overvalue intellectualism to the point of aloofness or detachment from ordinary feelings and everyday concerns.
Her writing sometimes slipped into a kind of intellectualism that alienated general readers.
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Last updated: 2026/01/15 16:44