heterotelic

[ het-er-uh-tel-ik, -tee-lik ]

/ ˌhɛt ər əˈtɛl ɪk, -ˈti lɪk /

adjective

(of an entity or event) having the purpose of its existence or occurrence outside of or apart from itself.

Nearby words

heterosuggestion, heterotactic, heterotaxia, heterotaxic, heterotaxis, heterotelic, heterothallic, heterotonia, heterotopia, heterotransplant, heterotransplantation

Compare autotelic.

Origin of heterotelic

First recorded in 1900–05; hetero- + tel-² + -ic

Related forms

het·er·o·tel·ism, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019