| a printed punctuation mark (‽), available only in some typefaces, designed to combine the question mark (?) and the exclamation point (!), indicating a mixture of query and interjection, as after a rhetorical question. |
| a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison. |
individualism (ˌɪndɪˈvɪdjʊəˌlɪzəm) ![]() | |
| —n | |
| 1. | the action or principle of asserting one's independence and individuality; egoism |
| 2. | an individual quirk or peculiarity |
| 3. | another word for laissez faire |
| 4. | philosophy Platonism Compare realism the doctrine that only individual things exist and that therefore classes or properties have no reality |
A view that stresses the importance and worth of each person. In economics, it is the doctrine that individuals best serve the public interest by pursuing their own self-interest. For example, the businessman who expands his company to increase his profits also creates jobs for many people and thereby serves the public interest. (See laissez-faire.)