# hedonism

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈhɛdənɪzəm/ · frequency rank #47,671

## Definitions
1. The philosophical belief that happiness, particularly sensual pleasure, is the highest good in life.
2. A general devotion to the pursuit of pleasure.

## Etymology
First attested 1856: from Ancient Greek ἡδονή (hēdonḗ, “pleasure”) + -ism.

## Easily confused with
- **heroism** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hedonism-vs-heroism)

## Common misspellings (12)
`ehdonism`, `hdeonism`, `heddonism`, `hednoism`, `hedoinsm`, `hedonims`, `hedonismm`, `hedonissm`, `hedonnism`, `hedonsim`, `heodnism`, `hhedonism`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/hedonism