Sapiophile – Meaning, Origin & Usage
“What is a sapiophile?” you may ask. Well, we’ve got an answer right here for you.
In this article, we’re going to cover exactly what is meant by the term ‘sapiophile, before going on to explain how the term originated and was gradually popularised. We will also explain how people tend to use the term ‘sapiophile’
Then we will go on to explain the key similarities and differences between the words ‘sapiophile’ and ‘sapiosexual’, before speculating about which historical figures may have been sapiophiles, and providing a list of signs that you could be a sapiophile. We will wrap up with a brief FAQ section, and by the end you’ll feel like an expert.
Let’s get straight to it.
What is a ‘sapiophile’? What does ‘sapiophile’ mean?
A sapiophile is someone who is attracted to individuals with high intelligence, and also individuals with a high level of education, and intellectual curiosity.
Sapiophiles typically prioritize mental stimulation and intelligent conversations in their relationships. Some prefer partners who push them intellectually, and others are just fine with partners on an equal playing field., someone who’s an intellectual equal, who can relate to their thoughts and state of mind.
Origins of the term sapiophile
The precise date of origin of the term ‘sapiophile’ is unclear. However, we have established that it appeared to have come about in recent decades. Nonetheless, in spite of that, we have deduced that the first time that the word was coined on X (formerly Twitter) in the year 2008.
That said, it has been speculated that the term was in use much earlier than that, since there has been evidence of ot appearing as far back as 1991. It was a few years later in 1998 that the word was used by the blogger and engineer Darren Stalder of Seattle.
However, it wasn’t until the year 2011 that the term was entered into the online Urban Dictionary. Then, by the year 2013, the online dating app Plenty of Fish had introduced a drop-down box, where users could select the term ‘sapiophile’ to describe themselves on their user profiles. It is most likely this that truly popularised the term when everyone started Googling to find out what it meant.
In terms of the etymology of the word, ‘sapiophile’ is a compound word, borrowing from both Latin and Greek. The term features the Latin roof ‘sapient-’ which means ‘wise’ and the Greek suffix ‘-phile’, which means ‘lover of’.
Sapiophile vs. sapiosexual: key similarities and differences
The term ‘sapiophile’ is used to refer to someone who is drawn to individuals who have high intelligence. Meanwhile, the term ‘sapiosexual’ is used to refer to someone who is sexually attracted to individuals with high intelligence. Thus, the term ‘sapiophile’ tends to be used to refer to romantic tendencies, whereas the term ‘sapiosexual’ is used to refer to sexual orientation.
More often than not, sapiosexuals are also sapiophiles, and it is because of this that the terms are so often used interchangeably.
Famous potential sapiophiles in history
The truth is that since ‘sapiophile’ is such a recent term, we cannot know for certain whether or not certain people from the history books were sapiophiles. But we can speculate about who may have been a sapiophile. Here’s our list of potential sapiophiles:
- Socrates (469–399 BCE) – ancient Greek philosopher
- Hypatia of Alexandria (c. 350–415 CE) – renowned female mathematician, philosopher, and astronomer
- Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) – polymath of the Renaissance
- Queen Elizabeth I of England (1533–1603)
- Voltaire (1694–1778) – a leading figure of the Enlightenment
- Marie Curie (1867–1934) – pioneering physicist, chemist, and Nobel Prize winner
- Albert Einstein (1879–1955) – the theoretical physicist
Signs you may be a sapiophile
Here follows a list of signs that indicate whether you may be a sapiophile:
- You’re intelligent and place a high value on intelligence.
- You derive pleasure from deep, thought-provoking conversations.
- You enjoy debating complex issues that stimulate your mind.
- You appreciate an intelligent sense of humour.
- You also value emotional intelligence and its application.
- You have a profound, natural curiosity for things.
- You choose to buy somewhat nerdy gifts for friends and family.
- You are open minded and are aware of multiple points of view over issues.
- You want someone who can stand their ground in a debate.
- You are proud of your intelligence and ability.
- You appreciate it when someone corrects or presents you with new facts and truths.
- You may have unconventional or unusual interests.
- There’s no particular demographic that appeals to you, simply mainly intelligence.
- You want to know everything about the person before you commit to anything long-term.
- You are an excellent communicator and can talk for hours.
FAQs
Is sapiosexuality a real thing?
As the term ‘sapiosexual’ grew in popularity, more and more people began describing themselves as sapiosexual. Sapiosexuality has since found footing in the scientific community, and it has been suggested that historically, intelligence was a sign of resourcefulness and adaptability, qualities that would be essential for survival. Thus there is a solid evolutionary basis for sapiosexuality.
Can someone be heterosexual and also be a sapiosexual?
Yes. Sapiosexuality is not based on gender, therefore the term is not limited to the LGBTQ+ community. A sapiosexual may identify as heterosexual, gay, lesbian, bisexual, pansexual or queer.
Final word
So, to summarise, a sapiophile is someone who is attracted to individuals with a high level of intelligence. The term ‘sapiophile is a relatively recent term from recent decades, however we can speculate that famous people form history may have been sapiophiles.
Similarly, a sapiosexual is someone who is sexually attracted to people with high intelligence. Sometimes the terms sapiophile and sapiosexual are used interchangeably because often both terms can apply to a person.
The term ‘sapiophile’ is believed to have been in use since at least the 1990’s, but it wasn’t until the term was used as an option on dating apps that the term became truly popularised, since this boosted the Googling of the term.
If you feel the term ‘sapiophile’ applies to you, this is something to be celebrated.
