ontological

American

[on-tl-oj-i-kuhl] / ˌɒn tlˈɒdʒ ɪ kəl /

Sometimes ontologic,

adjective

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 Word Forms

nonontological adjective
unontological adjective

Etymology

Origin of ontological

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

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.

But the ontological distinction was lost at the start: events don't exist, they happen.

From Science Daily • Nov. 2, 2025

Whatever Ramona wanted in the car, she’s experiencing ontological buyer’s remorse in the now.

From Salon • Mar. 31, 2025

The premise, and what’s done with it, paint “Laid” into a moral and ontological corner, which it addresses temporarily by literally opening a door.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 18, 2024

Without diving into some kind of ontological rumination, I think we can agree that this isn’t really about “existence.”

From New York Times • Jan. 24, 2024

So much for the author's psychology—let us now proceed to the ontological part of the work.

From The Philosophy of History, Vol. 1 of 2 by Schlegel, Friedrich

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