Hedonist
/ˈhiːdənɪst/
nounC1
Definition
A hedonist is someone who thinks that having fun and feeling good are the best goals in life. They often focus on enjoying things like food, parties, or relaxation. This idea comes from a philosophy that pleasure is the main purpose of life.
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See It in Action
A person who lives for pleasure and enjoyment
- •He is a hedonist who spends his weekends at parties and fine restaurants.
- •Some people think being a hedonist means only caring about fun and not responsibilities.
- •The novel’s main character is a hedonist who loves luxury and avoids pain.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "hedonist" like "happy person," but someone who always chooses pleasure and fun as the most important things.
- ✓Picture a person at a party eating delicious food, dancing, and smiling without worry.
- ✓It’s the feeling when you decide to take a day off just to relax and enjoy yourself fully.
- ✓Sounds like "HEE-don-ist" → imagine someone saying "He done this" because he always does things that make him happy.
- ✓In stories, a hedonist might be a character who loves luxury and avoids hard work.
- ✓NOT like "workaholic" (someone who works all the time), a hedonist focuses on pleasure, not work.
- ✓NOT like "ascetic" (someone who avoids pleasure), a hedonist seeks pleasure actively.
- ✓NOT like "optimist" (someone who expects good things), a hedonist actively pursues pleasure as a goal.
Try Other Words
- •Pleasure-seeker: someone who looks for fun and enjoyment (use in casual contexts)
- •Sensualist: someone who enjoys physical pleasures like food and touch (use when focusing on bodily pleasures)
- •Epicure: a person who enjoys fine food and drink (use when focusing on taste and dining)
- •Self-indulgent: someone who allows themselves too much pleasure (use when pleasure is seen as excessive)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "hedon-" (from Greek "hēdonē" meaning pleasure) + "-ist" (a person who practices or believes)
- •Etymology: Comes from Greek philosophy where "hedonism" is the idea that pleasure is the highest good
- •Historical development: Used in English since the 1600s to describe people who follow pleasure as a life goal
- •Modern usage: Often used to describe someone who enjoys life’s pleasures a lot, sometimes with a negative or neutral tone
Reflect & Connect
•Can being a hedonist be good or bad? How do different cultures see pleasure in life?
•How do you balance enjoying life and handling responsibilities without being a hedonist?
Fill in the blanks
1.A hedonist usually tries to ___ pain and ___ pleasure in everyday life.
2.Unlike a hard worker, a hedonist often prefers ___ activities that bring joy.
3.When someone is called a hedonist, it means they value ___ more than work or duty.
4.People who are hedonists might ___ parties, good food, and relaxation.
5.The word hedonist comes from a philosophy that says pleasure is the ___ goal of life.
6.A hedonist might be seen as ___ if they ignore important responsibilities for fun.
7.To live like a hedonist, a person must ___ choices that increase happiness and avoid those that cause discomfort.