existentialism

noun

ex·​is·​ten·​tial·​ism ˌeg-(ˌ)zi-ˈsten(t)-shə-ˌli-zəm How to pronounce existentialism (audio)
ˌek-(ˌ)si-
: a chiefly 20th century philosophical movement embracing diverse doctrines but centering on analysis of individual existence in an unfathomable universe and the plight of the individual who must assume ultimate responsibility for acts of free will without any certain knowledge of what is right or wrong or good or bad

Examples of existentialism in a Sentence

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What to read next Shows like Cowboy Bebop had a ragtag team of underdogs exploring the solar system, instilling lessons about loneliness and existentialism. — George Yang, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2026 The push toward abstraction in mid-century American art coincided with a surge of interest in existentialism, which had begun to displace the pragmatism that underlay Avery’s approach. — Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 27 Aug. 2026 Strangely, the movement took shape not in France but in America, beginning in the late Sixties, just as existentialism, the last big French intellectual export, was fading from view. — Emily Eakin, Harpers Magazine, 28 July 2026 Even as Sartre’s intellectual star began to dim, and existentialism fell into disrepute, this focus on lived experience endured, though recast in ways Sartre might not have recognized or approved. — Literary Hub, 21 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for existentialism

Word History

Etymology

existential + -ism, in part as translation of German Existentialismus (or Existenzialismus) or French existentialisme

First Known Use

1941, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of existentialism was in 1941

Rhymes for existentialism

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Cite this Entry

“Existentialism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/existentialism. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on existentialism

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about existentialism

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