existentialism
/ˌɛɡzɪˈstɛnʃəˌlɪzəm/
noun
- A philosophical movement that emphasizes individual freedom, choice, and responsibility, and the idea that people create their own meaning in life.
- When my friend felt lost, reading about existentialism helped her see that she could create her own purpose.
- Existentialism teaches that we are free to choose who we want to be, but we must also accept the responsibility for those choices.
- Many writers and artists in the 20th century were influenced by existentialism, especially in France.