transcendental

[ tran-sen-den-tl, -suhn- ]

adjective

1. transcendent, surpassing, or superior.
2. being beyond ordinary or common experience, thought, or belief; supernatural.
3. abstract or metaphysical.
4. idealistic, lofty, or extravagant.
5. Philosophy.
   1. beyond the contingent and accidental in human experience, but not beyond all human knowledge. Compare transcendent ( def 4b ).
   2. pertaining to certain theories, etc., explaining what is objective as the contribution of the mind.
   3. Kantianism. of, pertaining to, based upon, or concerned with a priori elements in experience, which condition human knowledge. Compare transcendent ( def 4b ).

noun

1. Mathematics. transcendental number.
2. transcendentals, Scholasticism. categories that have universal application, as being, one, true, good.

transcendental

/ ˌtrænsɛnˈdɛntəl /

adjective

1. transcendent, superior, or surpassing
2. in the philosophy of Kant
   1. (of a judgment or logical deduction) being both synthetic and a priori
   2. of or relating to knowledge of the presuppositions of thought
3. philosophy beyond our experience of phenomena, although not beyond potential knowledge
4. theol surpassing the natural plane of reality or knowledge; supernatural or mystical

Derived Forms

• ˌtranscendenˈtality, noun
• ˌtranscenˈdentally, adverb

Other Words From

• transcen·den·tali·ty noun
• transcen·dental·ly adverb
• untran·scen·dental adjective
• untran·scen·dental·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of transcendental¹

From the Medieval Latin word trānscendentālis, dating back to 1615–25. See transcendent, -al ¹

Example Sentences

By design, and to paraphrase one of its greatest tracks, some of it is just transcendental, some of it is delightfully dumb.

From New York Times

Veteran eclipse watchers say those in the path of totality can expect a transcendental experience.

From Los Angeles Times

One true sentence feels like a bump of a very expensive drug — it totally sends me into a transcendental state!

From New York Times

We talked about transcendental meditation and the staying power of the Beach Boys.

From Los Angeles Times

Can a snake bite give you a transcendental experience?

From Scientific American