adjective
ontological
on-tuh-LOJ-i-kul
Ontological (adjective) means relating to ontology — the branch of philosophy concerned with what exists and what it means for something to be. Example: “An ontological question about whether numbers exist.”
adjective
1
Relating to ontology — the branch of philosophy concerned with what exists and what it means for something to be.
"An ontological question about whether numbers exist."
"A curious thing about the ontological problem is its simplicity. It can be put in three Anglo-Saxon monosyllables: ‘What is there?’ It can be answered, moreover, in a word—‘Everything’—and everyone will accept this answer as true."
— W.v.O. Quine, On What There Is (1948)
How to use ontological
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo do with what actually exists.
When to use it
Academic and philosophical. Rare in everyday speech.
Easily confused with
epistemological
metaphysical →
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An _____ question about whether numbers exist.
Etymology
From Greek "ontos" (being) plus "logos" (study), via the noun ontology.
Rhymes for ontological
See all rhymes for ontological →Frequently asked questions
What does ontological mean?
Concerning the nature of existence — what kinds of things exist and what it means to say something is real. An ontological claim is about being itself, not about how we know things.
What is the difference between ontological and epistemological?
Ontology asks what exists; epistemology asks how we can know it. "Is there a mind separate from the brain?" is ontological. "How could we ever find out?" is epistemological.
What is the meaning of ontological?
"ontological" (adjective) means relating to ontology — the branch of philosophy concerned with what exists and what it means for something to be.
How do you use ontological in a sentence?
Example: "An ontological question about whether numbers exist."
