ontological
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of ontological
First recorded in 1700–10; ontolog(y) ( def. ) + -ical ( def. )
Explanation
Things that have to do with the nature of being are ontological, like your ontological question about the Loch Ness Monster — do we have to have proof in order for something to exist? The study of being, is called ontology, so an ontological argument might investigate whether God — or people, for that matter — really exist. Are we real or just an imagined phenomenon? How do we know we aren't just characters in our creator's mind? These are heavy questions — philosophers including Aristotle, Parmenides, Descartes, Hume, Kant have all weighed in on the ontological question of “what can we be certain exists?”
Vocabulary lists containing ontological
The Fault in Our Stars
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Frankly in Love
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
City of Bones
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Ontological approaches dealing with the nature of being are more convincing, even if they will most likely not change the minds of atheists.
From Scientific American • Oct. 4, 2022
Ontological argument an argument for the existence of God built upon a consideration of the attribute of God’s existence.
From Textbooks • Jun. 15, 2022
When she joined, her business card read Ontological Yahoo, a term reflecting her philosophical approach to the job.
From New York Times • Jul. 16, 2016
"Natural kinds" in Ontological Relativity and Other Essays.
From Scientific American • May 24, 2011
Ontological proof of the existence of God, 491-493.
From Christianity and Greek Philosophy or, the relation between spontaneous and reflective thought in Greece and the positive teaching of Christ and His Apostles by Cocker, B. F. (Benjamin Franklin)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
