| English Dictionary |
A POSTERIORI
Dictionary entry overview: What does a posteriori mean?
• A POSTERIORI (adjective)
The adjective A POSTERIORI has 2 senses:
1. involving reasoning from facts or particulars to general principles or from effects to causes
2. requiring evidence for validation or support
Familiarity information: A POSTERIORI used as an adjective is rare.
• A POSTERIORI (adverb)
The adverb A POSTERIORI has 1 sense:
1. derived from observed facts
Familiarity information: A POSTERIORI used as an adverb is very rare.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
Involving reasoning from facts or particulars to general principles or from effects to causes
Context example:
a posteriori demonstration
Also:
synthetic; synthetical (of a proposition whose truth value is determined by observation or facts)
inductive (of reasoning; proceeding from particular facts to a general conclusion)
Antonym:
a priori (involving deductive reasoning from a general principle to a necessary effect; not supported by fact)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Requiring evidence for validation or support
Similar:
empiric; empirical (derived from experiment and observation rather than theory)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Derived from observed facts
Antonym:
a priori (derived by logic, without observed facts)
Context examples
You state dogmatically the latest facts which science has been able to establish only by a posteriori reasoning.
(Martin Eden, by Jack London)
| Learn English with... Proverbs |
"The more you mow the lawn, the faster the grass grows." (Albanian proverb)
"You left them lost and bewildered." (Arabic proverb)
"The grass is always greener on the other side." (Danish proverb)