individualism

Meanings

1. The tendency for a person to act without reference to others, particularly in matters of style, fashion or mode of thought.
2. The moral stance, political philosophy, or social outlook that promotes independence and self-reliance of individual people, while opposing the interference with each person's choices by society, the state, or any other group or institution.
3. The doctrine that only individual things are real.
4. The doctrine that nothing exists but the individual self.

Etymology

Borrowed from French individualisme, equivalent to individual + -ism.