Definition

1. Noun:
   • A social theory favoring freedom of action for individuals over collective or state control: This meaning emphasizes the political and economic aspect, where individual rights and initiatives are prioritized.
   • The habit or principle of being independent and self-reliant: This refers to a personal belief system that values personal independence and self-sufficiency.
   • A doctrine that the interests of the individual are or ought to be ethically paramount: This is a moral stance placing the individual at the center of ethical consideration.

Usage

• Individualism is often discussed in contrast to collectivism. It is a central concept in political philosophy, economics, and sociology.
• It describes both a societal value system and a personal character trait.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The country's culture is characterized by a strong sense of individualism and personal responsibility.
  • His individualism made him resist joining any large organization.
  • The philosopher argued for a form of individualism that balanced personal freedom with social obligation.

Advanced Usage

• Methodological individualism: A principle in social science that social phenomena must be explained by showing how they result from individual actions and attitudes.
  • The study used methodological individualism to analyze the market trends.
• Romantic individualism: An emphasis on the individual's unique feelings and self-expression, particularly associated with the Romantic era.
  • The poet's work is a classic example of Romantic individualism.

Variants and Related Words

• Individualist (noun): A person who practices or advocates individualism.
  • He was a staunch individualist who lived by his own rules.
• Individualistic (adjective): Characterized by individualism; more interested in individual people than in society as a whole.
  • She has a highly individualistic approach to her art.
• Individuality (noun): The quality or character of a particular person or thing that distinguishes them from others of the same kind.
  • The school encourages students to express their individuality.

Synonyms

• Self-reliance: Reliance on one's own powers and resources rather than those of others.
• Independence: Freedom from outside control or support.
• Autonomy: The right or condition of self-government.

Antonyms

• Collectivism: The practice or principle of giving a group priority over each individual in it.
• Conformity: Compliance with standards, rules, or laws; behavior in accordance with socially accepted conventions.
• Dependence: The state of relying on or being controlled by someone or something else.

Related Phrases and Concepts

• Rugged individualism: A term often associated with the frontier ethos of the United States, emphasizing self-reliance and independence.
  • The myth of the cowboy embodies the ideal of rugged individualism.
• Expressive individualism: A modern form of individualism that holds that each person has a unique core of feeling and intuition that should unfold or be expressed.
  • The decision was driven more by expressive individualism than by practical concerns.

Noun

1. the doctrine that government should not interfere in commercial affairs
2. a belief in the importance of the individual and the virtue of self-reliance and personal independence
3. the quality of being individual
   • so absorbed by the movement that she lost all sense of individuality