intellectualism

noun

in·​tel·​lec·​tu·​al·​ism ˌin-tə-ˈlek-chə-wə-ˌli-zəm 

-chə-ˌli-,

-shwə-ˌli-,

-chü(-ə)-ˌli-

: devotion to the exercise of intellect or to intellectual pursuits

intellectualist

ˌin-tə-ˈlek-chə-wə-list 

-chə-list

-shwə-list

-chü(-ə)-list

noun or adjective

intellectualistic

ˌin-tə-ˌlek-chə-wə-ˈli-stik 

-chə-ˈli-

-shwə-ˈli-

-chü(-ə)-ˈli-

adjective

Examples of intellectualism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Both women have crises of faith in language, in intellectualism, in their role as a therapist and as a wife. —Lily Meyer, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2024

Virgo Pallas in Virgo has the capacity to heal and bring intellectualism to matters. —Lisa Stardust, Peoplemag, 6 Sep. 2024

So Flynn publishes it anonymously and hires a handsome young actor to play the author, which backfires when the actor decides to draw on his regressive, laddish intellectualism to bring the book’s arguments to life. —Randy Boyagoda, The Atlantic, 16 Aug. 2024

Kenan Thompson explains why Saturday Night Live ending after season 50 'might not be a bad idea' Pop Culture Jeopardy! will infuse the game show's rigorous intellectualism with some refreshing splashiness. —Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 31 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1800, in the meaning defined above