What does nihilism mean?
Nihilism is the belief that existence has no inherent meaning, purpose, value, or objective foundation. As a philosophical term, it appears in discussions of morality, religion, and human existence, particularly in the thought of nineteenth- and twentieth-century European thinkers. As a political term, nihilism can describe the rejection of established authority and social order, especially when that rejection is associated with violence or revolutionary aims. The word also has a broader modern sense of uncompromising skepticism toward conventional beliefs and institutions. In ordinary use, nihilism is more than simple pessimism: it suggests the denial that reality possesses any stable or authoritative meaning. The term is useful because it identifies a distinctive philosophical position and helps distinguish radical skepticism from ordinary disagreement, doubt, or dissatisfaction with society.
nounNihilism is the philosophical belief that existence has no inherent meaning, value, or objective basis. In political contexts, it can also refer to an extreme rejection of authority and established institutions, especially when pursued through violence or social disorder.
- The philosophical belief that life, reality, or human existence has no inherent meaning, purpose, or objective value.
- The political doctrine or movement that rejects existing social, religious, and political authority and seeks to overturn or destroy established order.
- A broad attitude of extreme skepticism, rejection, or hostility toward conventional beliefs, institutions, and values.
"The novel explores nihilism by questioning whether morality, meaning, and social institutions have any lasting authority."
"Her essay considers the appeal of nihilism in a world where religious and political explanations of suffering no longer seem authoritative."
"The authoritarian regime argued that the opposition's political nihilism threatened the foundations of society."
Nihilism is normally used as an uncountable noun; the plural nihilisms is possible but uncommon.
"The novel compares different forms of nihilism found in postwar Europe."
Nihilism begins with a fearless question: if the world has no built-in meaning, what role should meaning play in human life?
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does nihilism come from?
Nihilism was formed in the nineteenth century from the Latin nihil, meaning “nothing,” together with the suffix -ism, which forms a doctrine or belief. The word was initially associated with philosophical and political movements that rejected prevailing religious, moral, and social foundations. Its development reflects the broader nineteenth-century intellectual interest in whether human life has objective meaning and whether inherited authorities can be rationally justified. Related English words include nihilist and nihilistic, while nil, annihilate, and annihilation share the same Latin root in the sense of nothingness or bringing to nothing.
Related word forms
How nihilism is actually used
Nihilism is primarily a formal philosophical and political term. It often carries serious or negative connotations and is commonly used for beliefs that reject objective meaning, moral standards, or established authority; in political usage, it may suggest revolutionary violence or social disorder.
Easily confused with nihilism
Nihilism is the doctrine or outlook, whereas a nihilist is a person who holds or promotes nihilistic views.