individualism: Meaning and Definition of

in•di•vid•u•al•ism

1. a social theory advocating the liberty, rights, or independent action of the individual.
2. the principle or habit of or belief in independent thought or action.
3. the pursuit of individual rather than common or collective interests; egoism.
4. individual character; individuality.
5. an individual peculiarity.
1. the doctrine that only individual things are real.
2. the doctrine or belief that all actions are determined by, or at least take place for, the benefit of the individual, not of society as a whole.