What does absurdism mean?
Absurdism is a philosophical outlook most closely associated with the French-Algerian writer Albert Camus, who argued that human beings instinctively search for meaning, purpose, and clarity in a universe that offers none. This collision between our demand for meaning and the world's silent indifference he called 'the absurd.' Rather than escaping it through religious faith (what Camus called 'philosophical suicide') or ending one's life, absurdism counsels acknowledgment of the tension and continued living in defiance of it — a stance he dramatized in works such as The Myth of Sisyphus. Beyond strict philosophy, the word also describes art and literature that embrace irrationality and incongruity, notably the mid-twentieth-century Theatre of the Absurd of Beckett, Ionesco, and others. In everyday use, calling something 'absurdism' can simply signal surreal, illogical humor or design. The term carries intellectual weight and is common in literary criticism, philosophy, and cultural commentary.
nounA philosophical stance holding that human beings' search for meaning in life conflicts with the universe's inherent meaninglessness, and that one should embrace this conflict rather than resolve it through suicide or false hope. It is also used more loosely for literature and art characterized by deliberate irrationality or the absence of conventional meaning.
- The philosophical position, associated chiefly with Albert Camus, that humans seek meaning in a meaningless universe and should embrace this tension without appeal to false hope or despair.
- Literature, drama, or art marked by deliberate irrationality, illogical situations, and the breakdown of conventional meaning — as in the Theatre of the Absurd.
"Camus argued that absurdism demands we live fully despite the universe's silence."
"The play's circular plot and nonsensical dialogue are hallmarks of absurdist theatre."
"Reading Camus in college introduced her to absurdism and its insistence on living defiantly in an indifferent world."
Rarely pluralized; the plural appears mainly in academic writing comparing different versions or interpretations of absurdist thought across thinkers or periods.
"The seminar compared the absurdisms of Camus, Beckett, and Ionesco."
Albert Camus said the only truly serious philosophical question is suicide — and his answer was to laugh at the void and keep living anyway.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of absurdism
The word derives from 'absurd,' which entered English from French 'absurde,' ultimately from Latin 'absurdus,' meaning 'out of tune, incongruous, ridiculous' — literally 'away from' (ab-) what is 'pure, clear, or certain' (surdus). As a named philosophical doctrine, absurdism emerged in the twentieth century from the writings of Albert Camus, particularly The Myth of Sisyphus (1942), though Camus himself resisted being labeled an existentialist and did not always use '-ism' as a formal label. Related English forms include 'absurdity,' 'absurdist,' and 'absurdly,' all sharing the same Latin root.
Related word forms
How absurdism is actually used
In strict philosophical contexts, 'absurdism' refers specifically to Camus's response to the problem of meaning; in casual usage it often denotes anything surreal or illogical. Capitalization varies: 'Absurdism' when treated as a named school of thought, lowercase otherwise. The related term 'theatre of the absurd' (coined by Martin Esslin) is a specific literary movement, not identical to the broader philosophy.
Easily confused with absurdism
Nihilism holds that life has no meaning or value, whereas absurdism acknowledges this clash but urges embracing life and revolt rather than despair.
Existentialism holds that individuals create their own meaning, while absurdism insists that any such meaning is ultimately a human construct confronting an indifferent universe.