adjective
Usage
See dialectal.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of dialectical
Explanation
Dialectical describes how someone goes about finding the truth. If you're an investigative journalist, you probably use dialectical reasoning. You might think dialectical refers to how people speak in a certain region or in a specific group, such as a regional accent. That version of dialect comes from the Greek word dialektos, meaning "discourse, way of speaking." But dialectical instead comes from the French word dialecte, meaning "denoting the art of investigating the truth of opinions." It has to do with a method of reasoning used to determine the truth.
Vocabulary lists containing dialectical
Fidel Castro (1926-2016) Memorial List
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First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong
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"The MGMT Solution," Vocabulary from Chapter 5
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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.
I’m a big believer in dialectical thinking — looking at situations from multiple perspectives.
From MarketWatch • May 6, 2026
"I've tried antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, benzos, sleeping pills and stimulants, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy... tai chi, reiki, meditation, veganism, art therapy and music therapy," the former stand-up comedian said.
From Barron's • Feb. 25, 2026
That was not, in Hobsbawm’s analysis, a straight-up clash between good and evil or enlightenment and darkness; he was a non-dogmatic Marxist, always attuned to the nuanced dialectical relationship between historical forces.
From Salon • Dec. 7, 2025
I go back to this idea that comes from dialectical behavioral therapy: Two things can be true.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 6, 2025
I acquired the complete works of Marx and Engels, Lenin, Stalin, Mao Tse-tung, and others and probed into the philosophy of dialectical and historical materialism.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
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.
