What does nihilist mean?
A nihilist is someone who rejects the idea that life possesses inherent meaning, objective moral values, or a rational order. In its precise philosophical sense, the word identifies a person who holds a form of nihilism, a position associated especially with nineteenth- and twentieth-century European thought and with figures such as Friedrich Nietzsche, although Nietzsche's relationship to the label is more complicated than the simple claim that he was a nihilist. In everyday and literary usage, “nihilist” can also describe someone who aggressively rejects religious, political, or cultural conventions. The word therefore carries both an intellectual meaning and a broader, often critical meaning. It is useful when discussing skepticism about foundations, values, and meaning, while its polemical use should be distinguished from a careful description of a philosophical position.
A person who believes that life has no inherent meaning or that objective moral and metaphysical values do not exist.
"The essay distinguishes the nihilist's denial of objective values from the relativist's view that moral standards vary between cultures."
In philosophical contexts, use the term precisely and avoid treating every skeptic or atheist as a nihilist.
A person who actively rejects established religious, political, social, or cultural values, especially in a radical or destructive way.
"The newspaper portrayed the protesters as cultural nihilists determined to tear down every inherited institution."
This extended use is often polemical and carries stronger negative connotations than the technical philosophical sense.
The regular plural is “nihilists.”
"The novel depicts a group of nihilists who reject both political authority and conventional morality."
Nihilist comes from the Latin nihil, meaning “nothing,” but the word describes a radically skeptical view of the world rather than literally a belief in emptiness.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does nihilist come from?
The word ultimately comes from Latin nihil, meaning “nothing,” a term associated with the principle that there is no being or reality independent of the individual. The noun nihilist was formed through the influence of nineteenth-century European philosophical vocabulary, especially German Nihilismus and French nihilisme, both derived from nihil. English initially used the word for philosophical adherents and, more broadly, for people associated with perceived destructive radicalism.
Related word forms
How nihilist is actually used
The term can be formal and philosophical, but it is also used polemically for someone perceived as destructive, morally indifferent, or opposed to tradition. In the broad, nontechnical sense, it often carries a more negative connotation than the precise philosophical label.
Easily confused with nihilist
Nihilism is the philosophical doctrine or outlook, whereas a nihilist is a person who advocates or embodies that doctrine.