Philistine

C1 16+

Pronunciation: /ˈfɪlɪˌstiːn/

Definitions of philistine

noun a person who is hostile or indifferent to culture and the arts, or who has no understanding of them

Example Sentences

A1 She was considered a philistine by her classmates because she never went to museums or art galleries.

A2 The philistine had no appreciation for classical music and preferred listening to pop songs.

B1 The philistine's lack of interest in literature was evident when they refused to read any books outside of their comfort zone.

B2 Despite being labeled a philistine by his colleagues, he was actually quite knowledgeable about modern art.

C1 The wealthy businessman was often criticized for his philistine attitude towards cultural activities.

C2 The art critic accused the museum director of being a philistine for prioritizing profit over artistic integrity.

adjective hostile or indifferent to culture and the arts, or lacking in understanding of them

Example Sentences

A1 She found the philistine decorations at the party to be quite tacky.

A2 The tourist was labeled as a philistine for not appreciating the historical significance of the monument.

B1 The philistine attitude towards art was evident in his dismissive comments about the gallery.

B2 Despite his philistine upbringing, he developed a deep appreciation for classical music.

C1 The professor was appalled by the philistine behavior of some of the students during the lecture.

C2 Her philistine views on literature were challenged when she attended a poetry reading event.

Examples of philistine in a Sentence

formal The philistine attitudes of the critics towards modern art were evident in their scathing reviews.

informal I can't believe he called me a philistine just because I don't appreciate classical music.

slang Stop acting like such a philistine and open your mind to new ideas.

figurative Her philistine approach to literature left her unable to appreciate the beauty of poetry.

Grammatical Forms of philistine

past tense

philistined

plural

philistines

comparative

more philistine

superlative

most philistine

present tense

philistines

future tense

will philistine

perfect tense

have philistined

continuous tense

is philistining

singular

philistine

positive degree

philistine

infinitive

to philistine

gerund

philistining

participle

philistined

Origin and Evolution of philistine

First Known Use: 1601 year
Language of Origin: Hebrew
Story behind the word: The word 'philistine' originated from the Hebrew Bible, where it referred to the ancient Philistines, a people who inhabited the southern coast of Canaan.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the term 'philistine' evolved to describe someone who is hostile or indifferent to culture and the arts, lacking in refinement or appreciation for intellectual pursuits.