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philistine

/ˈfɪlɪstaɪn/ noun

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about philistine at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

  1. A person who is uninterested in intellectual pursuits.
  2. A member of an Aegean people who settled ancient Philistia around the 12th century BC.

adjective

  1. Of or relating to ancient Philistia or its culture or its people.
  2. Smug and ignorant and indifferent or hostile to artistic and cultural values.

Origin

The noun is derived from Philistine, influenced by philister, Philister (“(historical) in German universities: person not associated with the university; person who lacks appreciation of or is antagonistic towards art or culture”), from German Philister (“person from ancient Philistia; (figurative, dated) person not associated with a university; (figurative) person who lacks appreciation of or is antagonistic towards art or culture”), from Late Latin Philistaeus, Philisteus (compare Philistinus and see further at Philistine) + German -er (suffix forming nouns indicating an inhabitant of a place, or a person originating from a place).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)