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a posteriori

[ey po-steer-ee-awr-ahy, -ohr-ahy, -awr-ee, -ohr-ee]
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adjective
  1. from particular instances to a general principle or law; based upon actual observation or upon experimental data: an a posteriori argument that derives the theory from the evidence.Compare a priori(def 1).
  2. not existing in the mind prior to or independent of experience.Compare a priori(def 2).
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Origin of a posteriori

1615–25; < Latin: literally, from the one behind. See a-4, posterior
Can be confusedad hoc a posteriori a priori ex post facto prima facie
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for a posteriori

analytical, empirical, experimental, logical, practical, inducible, inductive
British Dictionary definitions for a posteriori

a posteriori

adjective logic
  1. relating to or involving inductive reasoning from particular facts or effects to a general principle
  2. derived from or requiring evidence for its validation or support; empirical; open to revision
  3. statistics See posterior probability
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Compare a priori, synthetic (def. 4)

Word Origin for a posteriori

C18: from Latin, literally: from the latter (that is, from effect to cause)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for a posteriori

Latin, literally "from what comes after" (see posterior).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper