existential
Americanadjective
-
of or relating to existence.
Does climate change pose an existential threat to humanity?
-
of, relating to, or characteristic of philosophical existentialism; concerned with the nature of human existence as determined by the individual's freely made choices.
adjective
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of or relating to existence, esp human existence
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philosophy pertaining to what exists, and is thus known by experience rather than reason; empirical as opposed to theoretical
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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
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of or relating to existentialism
noun
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
- existentially adverb
- nonexistential adjective
- nonexistentially adverb
- unexistential adjective
- unexistentially adverb
Etymology
Origin of existential
First recorded in 1685–95, existential is from the Late Latin word existentiālis “relating to existing”; existence, -al 1
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.
While the practice is quickly spreading across Silicon Valley, there are still plenty of concerns about cybersecurity and larger, existential questions about the future of human-based software engineering.
"I don't think any of the social media services can afford to pay $6m per injured user," he added - saying he views the social media addiction cases as a potentially existential threat.
From BBC
For Musk, that means latching on to one or two existential issues and riding them week after week.
“I want people to feel better, not a deep sense of existential dread.”
Card club operators said the ban is an existential threat for the industry.
From Los Angeles Times
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.
