philosophy
- Top 3000
Sense 1
- noun
- B1
The study of big questions about life, knowledge, right and wrong, and what is really there.
Philosophy asks questions that have no simple or final answer.
Ancient Greek philosophy still shapes how we argue about justice.
The reading list for philosophy is long and rather demanding.
Common collocations: study philosophy · a degree in philosophy · moral philosophy · ancient philosophy · philosophy of science
Part of: School subjects, School and teaching, Books and reading
Sense 2 · less common
- noun
- B2
The set of ideas and rules that guide the way a person or a company acts.
Her philosophy is simple: never promise more than you can deliver.
The company built its whole philosophy around treating staff well.
My grandfather's philosophy was to mend things instead of buying new ones.
Common collocations: a personal philosophy · my philosophy is · business philosophy · a philosophy of life · share the same philosophy
Part of: Attitudes and opinions, Personality
Forms
- plural
- philosophies