existentialism

Definition

A twentieth-century philosophical movement emphasizing the uniqueness of each human existence in freely making its self-defining choices.

Etymology

Borrowed from French existentialisme.

Example Sentences

• "The heyday of existentialism occurred in the mid-twentieth century."
• "Sartre's existentialism is atheistic, but the existentialism of Marcel is distinctly Christian."
• "Instead of Existentialism, we should speak of Existentialisms."

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