English

Alternative forms

• philistine (the adjective and noun senses pertaining to lack of appreciation of culture)

Noun

Philistine ‎(plural Philistines)

1. (usually capitalized) A person from ancient Philistia.
   • 1611, Bible (KJV), Judges 16:23:

     Then the lords of the Philistines gathered them together for to offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to rejoice;

   • 1898, Winston Churchill, chapter 2, in The Celebrity:

     Sunning himself on the board steps, I saw for the first time Mr. Farquhar Fenelon Cooke. He was dressed out in broad gaiters and bright tweeds, like an English tourist, and his face might have belonged to Dagon, idol of the Philistines.

2. (usually uncapitalized) A person who lacks appreciation of art or culture.

   It is Shakespearean, you Philistine!‎

   • 1843 Thomas Carlyle, Past and Present, book 2, ch. 4, Abbot Hugo

     what could poor old Abbot Hugo do? A frail old man; and the Philistines were upon him, – that is to say, the Hebrews.

   • 2005, Plato, Sophist. Translation by Lesley Brown. 259d.

     trying to separate everything from everything else is not just poor taste but is the mark of a total philistine and someone with no feeling for philosophy.

Related terms

• Palestine
• Philistia
• philistine

Translations

Adjective

Philistine ‎(comparative more Philistine, superlative most Philistine)

1. Of or pertaining to the ancient Philistines.
2. Lacking appreciation of culture; also philistine.
   • 1948, 18th Century England, in LIFE, page 124,

     Walpole, moreover, left England not only more corrupt than he found it, but crasser and more Philistine.

   • 1991, Nick Doll, Canoeist's Guide to the North East, page 25,

     Visitors to the area are strongly recommended to have a look around the castle, for even the most Philistine of wild water canoeists cannot fail to be impressed by the enormous armoury, fine paintings and wonderful furnishings that seem to outclass all other museums and castles in the North East.

   • 2002, Louis Auchincloss, The Heiress, in Manhattan Monologues, page 33,

     Miles was taken seriously by the great dames of Manhattan society and was not scorned by even the most Philistine of their husbands.

Translations

English

Adjective

philistine ‎(comparative more philistine, superlative most philistine)

1. Hostile to or lacking in appreciation for art or culture, or having no understanding of them

Translations

Noun

philistine ‎(plural philistines)

1. Alternative letter-case form of Philistine
   • 1988, October 7, “Anthony Adler”, in Some Men Need Help:

     […] -as if to say, "Relax, folks, we're all philistines here; we're not gonna throw you anything that's over your head"-- […]

Translations

French

Adjective

philistine

1. feminine singular of philistin