singularista

Singularista is a noun used in Spanish and Portuguese to refer to a person who adheres to singularism or who studies and promotes emphasis on singular entities or individual cases within a given field. The exact sense of the term depends on the disciplinary and linguistic context, and it is not a widely standardized label in English-language philosophy or science.

Etymology and usage notes: the word combines the Latin root singularis, meaning single or one, with the suffix -ista, which denotes a practitioner, advocate, or devotee. In translation, singularista may correspond to “singularist” or, more generally, to someone who emphasizes the importance of single, particular items over generalities.

In philosophy of language and metaphysics, a singularista can be understood as someone who defends the primacy of singular terms—such as proper names or definite descriptions—in semantic analysis. This perspective contrasts with theories that prioritize general terms, predicates, or abstract entities. However, because singularista is not a standard technical label in English, its precise interpretation often appears only in translations, introductions, or discussions about terminology.

Outside philosophy, the label can be used more loosely to describe individuals who emphasize focusing on particular instances, unique cases, or individual differences in fields like law, political theory, or the arts. The term’s exact connotations are thus highly context-dependent and can vary across languages and communities.

See also: singular term, definite description, philosophy of language.