apophatic

American

[a-puh fat-ik] / ˌæ pə ˈfæt ɪk /

adjective

of, relating to, or characterized by apophasis, particularly negative theology.

Other Word Forms

apophasis noun
apophatical adjective
apophatically adverb
apophaticism noun
apophatics noun

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.

This kind of apophatic theology has a lot in common with godless mysticism, Gray argues, because saying that God does not exist is not so different from saying that we cannot comprehend God’s existence.

From The New Yorker • Oct. 22, 2018

My suggestion is to view Cage in the tradition of apophatic mystics who sought to understand God through what He is not.

From New York Times • May 25, 2017

The whole apophatic tradition in theology regards the search for God as being driven along by a recognition of what God is not.

From The Guardian • Dec. 11, 2010

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