ontology
Americannoun
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the branch of metaphysics that studies the nature of existence or being as such.
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(loosely) metaphysics.
noun
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philosophy the branch of metaphysics that deals with the nature of being
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logic the set of entities presupposed by a theory
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of ontology
From the New Latin word ontologia, dating back to 1715–25. See onto-, -logy
Explanation
If you are interested in metaphysics and the meaning of existence (and want to impress your friends), ontology may be a good field of study for you. Ontology comes from two Greek words: on, which means "being," and logia, which means "study." So ontology is the study of being alive and existing. Heady stuff, but something we all ponder at one point or another. When you see the word ontology, think of Hamlet agonizing over "To be, or not to be" or Descartes stating "I think, therefore I am."
Vocabulary lists containing ontology
Ancient Philosophy
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Native Speaker
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Martin Eden
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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.
At the heart of all these disputes is a question of ontology, the branch of metaphysics concerned with the nature of reality.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
Analysts and Palantir refer to the ontology as an organization’s “digital twin,” where data is mapped onto real-world objects.
From Barron's ● Mar. 20, 2026
The deeper risk is that we may be optimizing the wrong thing by improving algorithms while leaving the underlying computational ontology unchanged.
From Science Daily ● Dec. 24, 2025
Many Nigerians believe in the supernatural, and this often stems from the animistic ontology that undergirds self and being in many Nigerian communities.
From New York Times ● Feb. 7, 2024
These were the great, complex questions of ontology that tormented him.
From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller
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.
