antiintellectualism

A form of anti-intellectualism — A sentiment of hostility towards, or mistrust of, intellectuals and intellectual pursuits.

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Meanings

nounantiintellectualism (uncountable)
  1. alternativeuncountableAlternative form of anti-intellectualism.

    Chicago's campuses tend to evolve into enclaves anyway, as their inhabitants turn inward in a protective reaction against Chicago's pride in its buffoonery and its elevation of antiintellectualism to a cultural style.

    1991 May 17, James Krohe Jr., “Who's Afraid of Paula Wolff?”, in Chicago Reader

Origin

From antiintellectual + -ism, or anti- + intellectualism.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

antiintellectualism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/antiintellectualism

MLA

“antiintellectualism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/antiintellectualism. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “antiintellectualism,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/antiintellectualism.

Source: antiintellectualism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.