Existential

adj, noun

adj, noun ·4 syllables ·Moderate ·College level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 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. 2
    Ellipsis of existential type. abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis
Adjective
  1. 1
    Of or relating to existence.
  2. 2
    Concerning the very existence of something, especially with regard to extinction.

    "existential risk"

  3. 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. 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. 5
    Relating to part of a clause that indicates existence, e.g. "there is".
Adjective
  1. 1
    derived from experience or the experience of existence wordnet
  2. 2
    relating to or dealing with existence (especially with human existence) wordnet
  3. 3
    of or as conceived by existentialism wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms
animistanimisticatomisticcosmotheisticcyrenaiceclectic

Example

More examples

""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.

Related phrases

existential crisisexistential instantiationexistential nihilismexistential quantifierexistential riskexistential threatsingular existential statement

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.