existential

American  

[eg-zi-sten-shuhl, ek-si-] / ˌɛg zɪˈstɛn ʃəl, ˌɛk sɪ- /

adjective

1. of or relating to existence.

   Does climate change pose an existential threat to humanity?

2. of, relating to, or characteristic of philosophical existentialism; concerned with the nature of human existence as determined by the individual's freely made choices.

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existential British  

/ ˌɛɡzɪˈstɛnʃəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to existence, esp human existence

2. philosophy pertaining to what exists, and is thus known by experience rather than reason; empirical as opposed to theoretical

3. logic denoting or relating to a formula or proposition asserting the existence of at least one object fulfilling a given condition; containing an existential quantifier

4. of or relating to existentialism

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noun

1. 1. an existential statement or formula

   2. short for existential quantifier

Usage

What does existential mean? Existential is an adjective meaning “relating to existence,” but what does that even mean? What does anything mean? What is our purpose in the universe? These are existential questions. Existential is often used in relation to existentialism, a philosophical movement that suggests that existence (life, the universe, and everything) has no meaning except for the meaning that individuals create for themselves. Existential is also often used to describe a scenario in which someone or something’s very existence or being is threatened or in question, especially in phrases like existential threat. Example: Though unlikely, an asteroid strike would be an existential threat to the planet.

Other Word Forms

• nonexistential
  adjective
• unexistential
  adjective
• existentially
  adverb
• nonexistentially
  adverb
• unexistentially
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of existential

First recorded in 1685–95, existential is from the Late Latin word existentiālis “relating to existing”; see existence, -al ¹

Explanation

If something is existential, it has to do with human existence. If you wrestle with big questions involving the meaning of life, you may be having an existential crisis. Existential can also relate to existence in a more concrete way. For instance, the objections of your mother-in-law may pose an existential threat to the continuation of your Friday night card game. Often the word carries at least a nodding reference to the philosophy of existentialism associated with Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Sartre, and others, which emphasizes the individual as a free agent responsible for his actions.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

existential

Nick Bostrom, the former Oxford philosopher, was an early student of AI-related existential risk.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026

As the 1990s played out, MacLachlan fought an on-again, off-again existential crisis regarding the type of actor he was really meant to be.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026

The two countries have previously cooperated on existential threats such as nuclear weapons, but that was based on a shared understanding of the threat, which is not currently the case with AI, Dave said.

From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026

Such existential questions endured throughout the post-9/11 global war on terrorism.

From Salon ● Sep. 20, 2026

Given the existential threat posed by a German bomb, few harbored any qualms about the Allies using theirs first.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

Related Words

• experiential