1 : a native or inhabitant of ancient Philistia

. 2 often not capitalized. a : a person who is guided by materialism and is usually disdainful of intellectual or artistic values. b : one uninformed in a special area of knowledge. Philistine.

What does philistine mean as an insult?

As a derogatory term philistine describes a person who is narrow-minded and hostile to the life of the mind, whose materialistic worldview and tastes indicate an indifference to cultural and aesthetic values.

What's the origin of the word philistine?

philistine (n.) "person felt by the writer or speaker to be deficient in liberal culture," 1827, originally in Carlyle, popularized by him and Matthew Arnold, from German Philister "enemy of God's word," literally "Philistine," inhabitants of a Biblical land, neighbors (and enemies) of Israel (see Philistine).