Philosophical Definition & Meaning

American

British

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Examples

Related Words

Synonyms philosophical American [fil-uh-sof-i-kuhl] / ˌfɪl əˈsɒf ɪ kəl / Also philosophic

adjective

1. of or relating to philosophy.

   philosophical studies.

2. versed in or occupied with philosophy.

3. proper to or befitting a philosopher.

4. rationally or sensibly calm, patient, or composed.

5. Rare. of or relating to natural philosophy or physical science.

philosophical British / ˌfɪləˈsɒfɪkəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to philosophy or philosophers

2. reasonable, wise, or learned

3. calm and stoical, esp in the face of difficulties or disappointments

4. (formerly) of or relating to science or natural philosophy

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

• antiphilosophic adjective
• antiphilosophical adjective
• antiphilosophically adverb
• nonphilosophic adjective
• nonphilosophical adjective
• nonphilosophically adverb
• philosophically adverb
• philosophicalness noun
• pseudophilosophical adjective
• quasi-philosophical adjective
• quasi-philosophically adverb
• semiphilosophic adjective
• semiphilosophical adjective
• semiphilosophically adverb
• unphilosophic adjective
• unphilosophical adjective
• unphilosophically adverb

Etymology

Origin of philosophical

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English: “learned; pertaining to alchemy,” from Latin philosophic(us) (from Greek philosophikós; philosopher, -ic ) + -al 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

On a second watch, “Sirāt” became a philosophical provocation — a movie that questions everything we believe about family and security and community and faith.

From Los Angeles Times

“Certainly where we are in the standings, I have to make some philosophical decisions.”

From Los Angeles Times

In 1918, from the trenches on the Macedonian front, a 31-year-old German artilleryman sent his mother postcards covered in fragments of a philosophical system.

From The Wall Street Journal

In a LinkedIn post about the case, he wrote that the decision “represents a philosophical milestone — one that exposes how deeply our intellectual property system struggles to confront autonomous machine creativity.”

From Los Angeles Times

Look Mum No Computer, real name Sam Battle, is taking a philosophical approach to the UK's track record.

From BBC

Related Words

• abstract
• logical
• metaphysical
• profound
• rational
• thoughtful

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.