teleology

[ tel-ee-ol-uh-jee, tee-lee- ]

noun

, Philosophy.

1. the doctrine that final causes exist.
2. the study of the evidences of design or purpose in nature.
3. such design or purpose.
4. the belief that purpose and design are a part of or are apparent in nature.
5. (in vitalist philosophy) the doctrine that phenomena are guided not only by mechanical forces but that they also move toward certain goals of self-realization.

teleology

/ ˌtiːlɪ-; ˌtɛlɪˈɒlədʒɪ; ˌtiːlɪ-; ˌtɛlɪəˈlɒdʒɪkəl /

noun

1. philosophy
   1. the doctrine that there is evidence of purpose or design in the universe, and esp that this provides proof of the existence of a Designer
   2. the belief that certain phenomena are best explained in terms of purpose rather than cause
   3. the systematic study of such phenomena See also final cause
2. biology the belief that natural phenomena have a predetermined purpose and are not determined by mechanical laws

Derived Forms

• ˌteleˈologism, noun
• teleological, adjective
• ˌteleoˈlogically, adverb
• ˌteleˈologist, noun

Other Words From

• tel·e·o·log·i·cal [tel-ee-, uh, -, loj, -i-k, uh, l, tee-lee-], tele·o·logic adjective
• tele·olo·gism noun
• tele·olo·gist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of teleology¹

From the New Latin word teleologia, dating back to 1730–40. See teleo-, -logy

Word History and Origins

Origin of teleology¹

C18: from New Latin teleologia, from Greek telos end + -logy

Example Sentences

In the near future, Teresa is a middle-aged Massachusetts native without a career, a steady paycheck or a corporate teleology.

From Los Angeles Times

The various models proposed for the mechanism of evolution, such as Lamarckian evolution, orthogenesis, and use-disuse, all implied some level of teleology, that there was a directionality inherent in the process.

From Scientific American

Martin starts rambling off a list of words: thaumatology, ontology, eschatology, epistemology, phenomenology, teleology, etiology, ontogeny.

From Washington Post

One natural objection to the search for Dyson spheres is that it presupposes an endlessly consumptive technological teleology.

From The New Yorker

In the teleology of TikTok, humans were put on Earth to make good content, and “good content” is anything that is shared, replicated, and built upon.

From The New Yorker