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Philistine: meaning, definitions and examples

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philistine

 

[ ˈfɪlɪstiːn ]

Noun / Adj
Context #1 | Noun

cultural disdain

A Philistine refers to a person who is perceived as lacking in or hostile to culture, the arts, or intellectual pursuits. Historically, the term has been used to describe individuals who prioritize materialism over artistic or intellectual values.

Synonyms

boor, materialist, uncultured, vulgarian

Examples of usage

  • He is often considered a Philistine for his disregard of literature.
  • The critics described the movie's audience as a bunch of Philistines, uninterested in deeper meanings.
  • Despite his wealth, he lived like a Philistine, avoiding any involvement with the arts.
Context #2 | Adj

cultural disdain

Philistine, when used as an adjective, describes something that is characteristic of a Philistine; it denotes an attitude of indifference or opposition to the values of the intellect or art.

Synonyms

ignorant, materialistic, uncultured

Examples of usage

  • The Philistine view on modern art led to numerous debates.
  • Her Philistine attitude towards poetry was evident when she dismissed it as nonsense.
  • It was a Philistine production, aimed solely at commercial success.

Translations

Translations of the word "philistine" in other languages:

🇵🇹 filisteu

🇮🇳 फिलिस्तीनी

🇩🇪 Philister

🇮🇩 Filistin

🇺🇦 філістимлянин

🇵🇱 filistyn

🇯🇵 ペリシテ人

🇫🇷 philistins

🇪🇸 filisteo

🇹🇷 Filistinli

🇰🇷 블레셋 사람

🇸🇦 فلسطيني

🇨🇿 filistin

🇸🇰 filistín

🇨🇳 非利士人

🇸🇮 filistin

🇮🇸 filistei

🇰🇿 филистин

🇬🇪 ფილისტიმე

🇦🇿 filistinli

🇲🇽 filisteo

Etymology

The term 'Philistine' originates from the ancient people known as the Philistines, who inhabited the southwestern coast of Canaan during the biblical period. They were often in conflict with the Israelites, and their name became associated with a lack of cultural sophistication due to their historical depiction in biblical texts. Over time, the term evolved into a pejorative used in Western culture to describe individuals deemed uncultured or uninterested in intellectual pursuits. The usage became more prevalent in the 19th century, particularly in discussions about art and culture, as intellectuals began to criticize the bourgeoisie for their perceived indifference to the fine arts. By the early 20th century, 'philistine' had firmly established itself in the English language as a term to denote someone who is dismissive of cultural and artistic values.