What does "existential" mean?
Ellipsis of existential clause.
Existential
adj, noun
adj, noun ·4 syllables ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Ellipsis of existential clause.
- Grammar: existential is listed as adj, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: animist, animistic, atomistic, cosmic matter.
- Useful contrasts: non-metaphysical, non-phenomenal, noumenal.
- Usage evidence: "To answer the latter question, one possibility is that all conscious beings are the single journeys of neurotransmitters in the existential crisis of an omnipotent entity attempting introspection." "I really, really like that hypothesis, and I never found it better formulated than how you did it here."
How to use "existential"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "existential" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "existential" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "existential" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "existential" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
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- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "existential" is acting as adj, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "animist" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "existential", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Ellipsis of existential clause. abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis
"We argue that existentials form a radial category, with a prototype and less canonical instances, where the prototype is clearly definable but the actual borderline between existentials and other clause types is fuzzy."
- 2 Ellipsis of existential type. abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis
Adjective
- 1 Of or relating to existence.
- 2 Concerning the very existence of something, especially with regard to extinction.
"existential risk"
- 3 Based on experience; empirical.
"In recent books on logic, distinction is made between two orders of inquiry concerning anything. First, what is the nature of it? how did it come about? what is its constitution, origin, and history? And second, What is its importance, meaning, or significance, now that it is once here? The answer to the one question is given in an existential judgment or proposition. The answer to the other is a proposition of value, what the Germans call a Werthurtheil […]"
- 4 Of or relating to existentialism.
"Some existential thinkers are concerned with artistic expression only indirectly, that is, they are passionately interested critics and analysts of art works."
- 5 Relating to part of a clause that indicates existence, e.g. "there is".
Adjective
- 1 derived from experience or the experience of existence wordnet
- 2 relating to or dealing with existence (especially with human existence) wordnet
- 3 of or as conceived by existentialism wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
""To answer the latter question, one possibility is that all conscious beings are the single journeys of neurotransmitters in the existential crisis of an omnipotent entity attempting introspection." "I really, really like that hypothesis, and I never found it better formulated than how you did it here.""
Common questions
What is a synonym for "existential"?
Common synonyms include: animist, animistic, atomistic, cosmic matter, cosmotheistic, cyrenaic.
How do you use "existential" in a sentence?
"To answer the latter question, one possibility is that all conscious beings are the single journeys of neurotransmitters in the existential crisis of an omnipotent entity attempting introspection." "I really, really like that hypothesis, and I never found it better formulated than how you did it here."
Etymology
From Late Latin existentialis, from existentia.