What does stoic mean?
Stoic means calm, patient, and controlled in the face of suffering, difficulty, or emotional pressure. A stoic person does not necessarily lack feelings; rather, that person resists showing them or allows them to govern behavior. The word can also denote an adherent of Stoicism, the ancient Greek philosophy associated with Zeno of Citium and later developed by thinkers such as Epictetus, Seneca, and Marcus Aurelius. In modern usage, stoic often suggests endurance without complaint and may sometimes carry the implication that emotions are being suppressed rather than thoughtfully managed. As a noun, stoic refers to a person who meets adversity with composure. The term has a memorable origin: the Stoics took their name from the stoa, a covered portico in Athens where Zeno taught, turning the location of their discussions into the name of their philosophy.
Calm, patient, and unemotional in the face of hardship, pain, or provocation.
"The injured player was stoic as the trainers treated his ankle."
Often implies emotional self-control and endurance without complaint.
A person who endures hardship without complaint or expresses emotion; also, a member of the ancient Stoic philosophy.
"The philosopher's calm advice appealed to stoics throughout the empire."
Use the capitalized form Stoic when referring specifically to ancient Stoic philosophy or its adherents.
The plural is used for multiple people described as stoic; in the historical sense, it refers to adherents of Stoicism.
"Ancient stoics sought freedom through reason, virtue, and mastery of the passions."
The Stoics were named after the painted porch in Athens where Zeno taught: turning a place to linger into a philosophy of self-command.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does stoic come from?
The English word comes through Latin stoicus, an adjective meaning “of or relating to the Stoics.” The Latin term derives from Greek Stoikos, likewise associated with the Stoic school, and ultimately from stoa, meaning a portico or covered walkway. Zeno of Citium began teaching in a painted colonnade in Athens, and his followers consequently became known as Stoics.
Related word forms
How stoic is actually used
In its everyday adjectival sense, stoic suggests controlled emotion and endurance, though it can imply an unusually restrained or unsympathetic reaction. The capitalized form Stoic refers specifically to ancient Stoic philosophy or its adherents.