- the doctrine that moral value can be defined in terms of pleasure
See utilitarianism - the doctrine that the pursuit of pleasure is the highest good
- indulgence in sensual pleasures
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
he•don•ism /ˈhidənˌɪzəm/USA pronunciation
n. [uncountable]
he•don•is•tic, adj.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- belief in or devotion to pleasure as a way of life.
he•don•is•tic, adj.
he•don•ism
(hēd′n iz′əm),USA pronunciation n.
- the doctrine that pleasure or happiness is the highest good.
- devotion to pleasure as a way of life:The later Roman emperors were notorious for their hedonism.
- Greek hēdon(é̄) pleasure + -ism
- 1855–60
- 2. sensualism, libertinism, debauchery, dissipation, carousal.
- 2. puritanism, asceticism, abstemiousness, self-denial.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
hedonism /ˈhiːdəˌnɪzəm; ˈhɛd-/ n
'hedonism' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):