ontological

[ on-tl-oj-i-kuhl ]

adjective

1. of or relating to ontology, the branch of metaphysics that studies the nature of existence or being as such; metaphysical:

   Some of the U.S. founders held an ontological belief in natural rights.

Other Words From

• nonon·to·logi·cal adjective
• unon·to·logi·cal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ontological¹

First recorded in 1700–10; ontolog(y) ( def ) + -ical ( def )

Example Sentences

The podcast’s namesake is inspired by the concept of ontological design—which is our capacity to actively play a role in shaping reality, being, and existence itself.

From Singularity Hub 

Beneath the talk is something more ontological—a picture of the racialized group as fundamentally lesser.

From Nautilus

Corporate personhood is a legal fiction, not an ontological or soteriological fact.

From The Daily Beast

If the famous ontological argument for the being of God has been refuted, we shall not, on that account, tremble for the ark.

From Project Gutenberg

In short, the theory shows why logical features have been made into ontological entities and into mental states.

From Project Gutenberg

The author asks himself what would be the proper method, the ontological or the psychological.

From Project Gutenberg

But this feat is far surpassed by his famous ontological proof of Theism.

From Project Gutenberg

Thus the argument from causation throws us back on the so-called ontological argument, whose futility has already been shown.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• existential
• metaphysical
• phenomenological