anti-intellectualism: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal / Academic
Quick answer
What does “anti-intellectualism” mean?
Hostility towards or distrust of intellectuals, intellectual pursuits, and critical thought.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Hostility towards or distrust of intellectuals, intellectual pursuits, and critical thought.
A cultural or political attitude that devalues, dismisses, or opposes rational argument, expertise, science, and the arts, often favouring emotion, practicality, or populist sentiment. It can manifest as mockery of 'elites' or 'experts', the promotion of anti-science views, or the rejection of nuanced analysis in favour of simplistic solutions.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is used identically in meaning and register. Spelling retains the hyphen in both varieties.
Connotations
Both associate it with political discourse, populism, and critiques of educational or media trends. In the US, it is strongly linked to historical tensions between populism and expertise. In the UK, it may be used in debates about class and 'elitism'.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English due to its prominence in analyses of US political history and culture, but common in UK academic/journalistic contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “anti-intellectualism” in a Sentence
[verb] + anti-intellectualism: fuel, promote, encourage, combat, decry, lament, analyseanti-intellectualism + [verb]: prevails, permeates, undermines, thrives[adjective] + anti-intellectualism: widespread, pervasive, deliberate, populistVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “anti-intellectualism” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The columnist argued that the government's rhetoric was beginning to anti-intellectualise the debate on climate change.
American English
- Some fear the movement seeks to anti-intellectualize public policy, dismissing complex data.
adjective
British English
- The campaign took an anti-intellectual turn, mocking university graduates as out of touch.
American English
- He was criticised for his anti-intellectual remarks about scientists and academics.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used. Might appear in critiques of corporate culture that dismisses research and long-term strategy.
Academic
Common in sociology, political science, history, and education studies to analyse societal trends.
Everyday
Very rare. Likely only in sophisticated political or cultural commentary.
Technical
Specific term in cultural studies and political theory.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “anti-intellectualism”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “anti-intellectualism”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “anti-intellectualism”
- Misspelling as 'antiintellectualism' (hyphen is standard).
- Using it to describe a single person's momentary dislike of a 'nerd' (it's a broad societal attitude).
- Confusing it with 'anti-elitism', which can be about privilege, not necessarily intellect.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Anti-intellectualism is an active attitude or ideology that distrusts or rejects intellectual pursuits. A person can be highly intelligent yet hold anti-intellectual views, just as an uneducated person may deeply respect knowledge and expertise.
Yes, paradoxically. A society may have high rates of university attendance (education) while simultaneously cultivating a cultural disdain for 'ivory tower' experts, theoretical knowledge, or the arts in favour of purely practical or vocational skills.
They overlap significantly. 'Philistinism' is a broader disdain for art, culture, and intellectual refinement. 'Anti-intellectualism' is more specifically hostile to the *practice* of intellectual inquiry, critical thought, and expertise, often in political or scientific contexts.
In modern academic and journalistic usage, it is almost exclusively a critical term. However, some populist movements may reclaim it positively as a stance against perceived elitism or overly complex systems. In analysis, it is treated as a descriptive, though often concerning, phenomenon.
Hostility towards or distrust of intellectuals, intellectual pursuits, and critical thought.
Anti-intellectualism is usually formal / academic in register.
Anti-intellectualism: in British English it is pronounced /ˌæn.ti.ɪn.təˈlek.tʃu.ə.lɪ.zəm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌæn.taɪ.ɪn.təˈlek.tʃu.ə.lɪ.zəm/ˌæn.t̬i-/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A cult of ignorance”
- “A war on experts”
- “The age of unreason (related concept)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of someone being 'anti' (against) 'intellectuals' (smart people who think deeply). It's the 'ism' (belief system) of being against deep thinking.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWLEDGE IS LIGHT / IGNORANCE IS DARKNESS (anti-intellectualism is rejecting the light); INTELLECTUALISM IS A DISEASE (anti-intellectualism sees it as a contagion to be resisted).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following scenarios BEST exemplifies anti-intellectualism?