/ ˌegzɪˈstenʃəlɪzəm; NAmE / noun
[ U ] ( philosophy ) the theory that humans are free and responsible for their own actions in a world without meaning
► ex·ist·en·tial·ist / -ʃəlɪst; NAmE / noun :
Sartre was an existentialist.
► ex·ist·en·tial·ist adjective :
existentialist theory
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WORD ORIGIN
translating Danish existents-forhold condition of existence (frequently used by Kierkegaard), from existential .