ontological

American  

[on-tl-oj-i-kuhl] / ˌɒn tlˈɒdʒ ɪ kəl /

Sometimes ontologic,

adjective

1. of or relating to ontology, the branch of metaphysics that studies the nature of existence or being as such; metaphysical.

   Some of the U.S. founders held an ontological belief in natural rights.

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Other Word Forms

• nonontological adjective
• unontological adjective

Etymology

Origin of ontological

First recorded in 1700–10; ontolog(y) ( def. ) + -ical ( def. )

Explanation

Things that have to do with the nature of being are ontological, like your ontological question about the Loch Ness Monster — do we have to have proof in order for something to exist? The study of being, is called ontology, so an ontological argument might investigate whether God — or people, for that matter — really exist. Are we real or just an imagined phenomenon? How do we know we aren't just characters in our creator's mind? These are heavy questions — philosophers including Aristotle, Parmenides, Descartes, Hume, Kant have all weighed in on the ontological question of “what can we be certain exists?”

Example Sentences

But the ontological distinction was lost at the start: events don't exist, they happen.

From Science Daily • Nov. 2, 2025

Whatever Ramona wanted in the car, she’s experiencing ontological buyer’s remorse in the now.

From Salon • Mar. 31, 2025

The premise, and what’s done with it, paint “Laid” into a moral and ontological corner, which it addresses temporarily by literally opening a door.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 18, 2024

Without diving into some kind of ontological rumination, I think we can agree that this isn’t really about “existence.”

From New York Times • Jan. 24, 2024

If ontological goodness is really identical with actual being, if being is good in so far as it is actual, then it would appear that ontological evil must be identical with non-being, nothingness.

From Ontology or the Theory of Being by Coffey, Peter

Related Words

• existential
• metaphysical