adjective
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of Socratic
1630–40; < Latin Sōcraticus < Greek Sōkratikós of, pertaining to Socrates; see -ic
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.
Professors at the small, private, third-tier law school I attended in the 1980s employed the Socratic method to force us to argue both sides of an issue.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 17, 2026
I was scared about whether, even with my hearing aids, I would be able to keep up with the quick-fire exchanges that fill my classroom as I engage law students in the Socratic method.
From Slate • Oct. 20, 2024
For example, GPT-4 can assume a Socratic style of conversation and respond to questions with questions.
From Reuters • Mar. 15, 2023
“The Socratic view is that you want … an examined life,” Emanuel told me, “and what I was trying to do was encourage people to examine their lives when it comes to aging.”
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 18, 2023
A Socratic dialogue raged within him: How unusual was the resulting position if he followed that particular line?
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
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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.