HEDONISM

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does hedonism mean? 

• HEDONISM (noun)
  The noun HEDONISM has 2 senses:

1. the pursuit of pleasure as a matter of ethical principle

2. an ethical system that evaluates the pursuit of pleasure as the highest good

  Familiarity information: HEDONISM used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• HEDONISM (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The pursuit of pleasure as a matter of ethical principle

Classified under:

Nouns denoting goals

Hypernyms ("hedonism" is a kind of...):

ethical motive; ethics; morality; morals (motivation based on ideas of right and wrong)

Derivation:

hedonic (devoted to pleasure)

hedonist (someone motivated by desires for sensual pleasures)

hedonistic (devoted to pleasure)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An ethical system that evaluates the pursuit of pleasure as the highest good

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("hedonism" is a kind of...):

ethics; moral philosophy (the philosophical study of moral values and rules)

Derivation:

hedonic (devoted to pleasure)

hedonist (someone motivated by desires for sensual pleasures)

hedonistic (devoted to pleasure)