philosophical
fihl-uh-SOF-ih-kl
Philosophical (adj) means relating to philosophy or the study of fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, and values. Example: “Their philosophical debate about the meaning of life lasted well into the night.”
adj
1
Relating to philosophy or the study of fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, and values.
"Their philosophical debate about the meaning of life lasted well into the night."
"She wrote her thesis on a philosophical question about free will."
"The lecture took a philosophical approach to the ethics of AI."
2
Calm and accepting when facing setbacks or disappointment, rather than getting upset.
"When the rain ruined the picnic, Tom stayed philosophical and suggested a board game."
"He was surprisingly philosophical about losing the promotion."
"After the flight was cancelled, she took a philosophical view and booked a hotel."
How to use philosophical
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither "to do with philosophy" or "calmly accepting of bad luck instead of getting worked up."
Common mistake
The everyday sense (staying calm about a setback) is far more common in casual speech than the academic sense — context usually makes clear which one is meant.
Common pairings
a philosophical question
philosophical about it
take a philosophical view
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more philosophical
- Superlative
- most philosophical
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Their _____ debate about the meaning of life lasted well into the night.
Etymology
From "philosophy" plus the adjective ending "-ical," which traces back to Ancient Greek philosophia, "love of knowledge."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
nonphilosophical
Related words
Rhymes for philosophical
See all rhymes for philosophical →Frequently asked questions
What does “philosophical” mean?
The word “philosophical” means relating to philosophy or the study of fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, and values. In plain terms, either "to do with philosophy" or "calmly accepting of bad luck instead of getting worked up.".
How do you pronounce “philosophical”?
“Philosophical” is pronounced fihl-uh-SOF-ih-kl (/ˌfɪl.əˈsɑ.fɪ.kl̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “philosophical” in a sentence?
Here is “philosophical” used in a sentence: “She wrote her thesis on a philosophical question about free will.”
What is another word for “philosophical”?
Words with a similar meaning to “philosophical” include philosophic.
What is the opposite of “philosophical”?
The opposite of “philosophical” — its antonyms — is nonphilosophical.
What part of speech is “philosophical”?
“Philosophical” is an adjective.
Where does the word “philosophical” come from?
The word “philosophical” comes from Ancient Greek. From "philosophy" plus the adjective ending "-ical," which traces back to Ancient Greek philosophia, "love of knowledge.".
Is “philosophical” a common word?
“Philosophical” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between being "philosophical" and being "resigned"?
Being philosophical means calmly accepting a setback while keeping perspective, whereas being resigned suggests giving in with a sense of defeat. Both involve acceptance, but "philosophical" carries a more composed, level-headed tone rather than gloom.
What is the difference between "philosophical" and "philosophic"?
Both words mean relating to philosophy and are largely interchangeable in that sense, but "philosophical" is far more common in everyday English. The sense of being calm about setbacks is normally expressed only with "philosophical."
What preposition follows "philosophical" when it means calm acceptance?
In this sense, "philosophical" is followed by "about" — you are philosophical about a loss, a delay, or bad news. The phrase "philosophical about" signals that you are taking the disappointment calmly.
