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definitions

a posteriori

[ ey po-steer-ee-awr-ahy, -ohr-ahy, -awr-ee, -ohr-ee ]
/ ˌeɪ pɒˌstɪər iˈɔr aɪ, -ˈoʊr aɪ, -ˈɔr i, -ˈoʊr i /
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR a posteriori ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

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).
not existing in the mind prior to or independent of experience.Compare a priori(def 2).

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RELATED WORDS

analytical, empirical, experimental, logical, practical, inducible, inductive

Nearby words

  1. a number of,
  2. a one,
  3. a penny saved is a penny earned,
  4. a picture is worth a thousand words,
  5. a place for everything and everything in its place,
  6. a priori,
  7. a prophet is not without honor save in his own country,
  8. a punta d'arco,
  9. a quo,
  10. a rolling stone gathers no moss

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. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for a posteriori

a posteriori

/ (eɪ pɒsˌtɛrɪˈɔːraɪ, -rɪ, ɑː) /

adjective logic

relating to or involving inductive reasoning from particular facts or effects to a general principle
derived from or requiring evidence for its validation or support; empirical; open to revision
statistics See posterior probability
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

a posteriori

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

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper