the doctrine that moral value can be defined in terms of pleasure
See utilitarianismthe doctrine that the pursuit of pleasure is the highest good indulgence in sensual pleasures
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
he•don•ism /ˈhidənˌɪzəm/USA pronunciation
n. [uncountable]
he•don•is•tic, adj.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- 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.See corresponding entry in Unabridged sensualism, libertinism, debauchery, dissipation, carousal.
- 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged puritanism, asceticism, abstemiousness, self-denial.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'hedonism' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):