transcendental

3 synonyms and 2 antonyms for transcendental, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Adj — Relating to ideas or knowledge that go beyond ordinary experience, especially in philosophy.

Synonyms

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

otherworldly nonnatural preternatural

Synonyms by Meaning

1. adj

Relating to ideas or knowledge that go beyond ordinary experience, especially in philosophy.

“Kant's transcendental philosophy explores how the mind shapes experience.”

otherworldly nonnatural preternatural

Opposites

earthly

2. adj

(mathematics) Describing a number that is not the root of any polynomial with rational coefficients, such as pi.

“Pi and e are both transcendental numbers.”

Opposites

algebraic

Etymology

A learned borrowing via Medieval Latin "transcendentalis," from Latin "transcendens" ("surpassing").

Full origin of transcendental →

Frequently asked questions

What does “transcendental” mean?

The word “transcendental” means relating to ideas or knowledge that go beyond ordinary experience, especially in philosophy. In plain terms, relating to ideas beyond everyday experience, or (in maths) a number that can't be a root of a rational polynomial equation.

How do you pronounce “transcendental”?

“Transcendental” is pronounced transn-DEHNTL (/ˌtɹænˌ(t)sɛnˈdɛntl̩/ in IPA).

How do you use “transcendental” in a sentence?

Here is “transcendental” used in a sentence: “Kant's transcendental philosophy explores how the mind shapes experience.”

What part of speech is “transcendental”?

“Transcendental” is an adjective.

Where does the word “transcendental” come from?

The word “transcendental” comes from Medieval Latin. A learned borrowing via Medieval Latin "transcendentalis," from Latin "transcendens" ("surpassing").

How many meanings does “transcendental” have?

“Transcendental” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to ideas or knowledge that go beyond ordinary experience, especially in philosophy.

Related words

transcend transcendence transcendency transcendent transcendently

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earthly algebraic otherworldly

Nearby words

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