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• metaphysical
  metaphysical

  adjective

  pertaining to or of the nature of metaphysics.
• Metaphysical
  Metaphysical

  adjective

  denoting or relating to certain 17th-century poets who combined intense feeling with ingenious thought and often used elaborate imagery and conceits. Notable among them were Donne, Herbert, and Marvell

metaphysical

American  

[met-uh-fiz-i-kuhl] / ˌmɛt əˈfɪz ɪ kəl /

adjective

1. pertaining to or of the nature of metaphysics.

2. Philosophy.

   1. concerned with abstract thought or subjects, as existence, causality, or truth.

   2. concerned with first principles and ultimate grounds, as being, time, or substance.

3. highly abstract, subtle, or abstruse.

4. designating or pertaining to the poetry of an early group of 17th-century English poets, notably John Donne, whose characteristic style is highly intellectual and philosophical and features intensive use of ingenious conceits and turns of wit.

5. Archaic. imaginary or fanciful.

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metaphysical ¹ British  

/ ˌmɛtəˈfɪzɪkəl /

adjective

1. relating to or concerned with metaphysics

2. (of a statement or theory) having the form of an empirical hypothesis, but in fact immune from empirical testing and therefore (in the view of the logical positivists) literally meaningless

3. (popularly) abstract, abstruse, or unduly theoretical

4. incorporeal; supernatural

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Metaphysical ² British  

/ ˌmɛtəˈfɪzɪkəl /

adjective

1. denoting or relating to certain 17th-century poets who combined intense feeling with ingenious thought and often used elaborate imagery and conceits. Notable among them were Donne, Herbert, and Marvell

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noun

1. a poet of this group

Other Word Forms

• antimetaphysical
  adjective
• antimetaphysically
  adverb
• hypermetaphysical
  adjective
• metaphysically
  adverb
• nonmetaphysical
  adjective
• nonmetaphysically
  adverb
• quasi-metaphysical
  adjective
• quasi-metaphysically
  adverb
• unmetaphysical
  adjective
• unmetaphysically
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of metaphysical

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English metaphisicalle, from Medieval Latin metaphysicālis; equivalent to metaphysic + -al ¹

Explanation

Add the Greek prefix "meta-" (beyond) to the base "physical" (nature), and you get metaphysical — a near synonym to the Latinate word "supernatural." Both concern phenomena that are outside everyday experience or knowledge. The adjective metaphysical entered the English language through Aristotle, whose Metaphysics is a collection of treatises that follows his Physics. Physics concerned natural philosophy, what we would call "science" today, while Metaphysics dealt with more abstract questions about the reality beyond what we perceive with our senses. Look at a physical object, say an apple. At what exact point did that apple come into existence? If you eat it, does it cease to exist, or does it still exist but in a changed way? These are metaphysical questions.

Example Sentences

“You might call it a Metaphysical Spoof With Acrobatic Prelude, or you might not. The only general thing you can say about it is that it’s very bright and very funny, and sometimes rather touching.”

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 29, 2025

Metaphysical and melancholy, “All of Us Strangers” is a stunner that AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr called an “a deeply felt journey of acceptance, love and forgiveness” in her review.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 18, 2024

Hours for the Gypsy Willow and Metaphysical Cafe are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

From Washington Times • Jul. 16, 2022

Metaphysical questions tend not to be resting points but starting points.

From Textbooks • Jun. 15, 2022

I am driving and going seventy-two and praying not to get a ticket and playing Metaphysical I Spy.

From "Paper Towns" by John Green

Related Words

• abstract
• abstruse
• esoteric
• mystical
• philosophical
• spiritual
• supernatural
• theoretical