metaphysical

1 of 2

adjective

meta·​phys·​i·​cal ˌme-tə-ˈfi-zi-kəl 

1

: of or relating to metaphysics

metaphysical truth

metaphysical speculation

2

a

: of or relating to the transcendent (see transcendent sense 1) or to a reality beyond what is perceptible to the senses

fleeing from experience to a metaphysical realm

—John Dewey

b

: supernatural

fate and metaphysical aid doth seem to have thee crown'd

—William Shakespeare

3

: highly abstract or abstruse

also : theoretical

metaphysical reasoning

4

often capitalized : of or relating to poetry especially of the early 17th century that is highly intellectual and philosophical and marked by unconventional figurative language

metaphysical poets

metaphysically

ˌme-tə-ˈfi-zi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Metaphysical

2 of 2

noun

: a metaphysical poet of the 17th century

Synonyms

Adjective

• abstract
• conceptual
• ideal
• ideational
• notional
• theoretical
• theoretic

Examples of metaphysical in a Sentence

Adjective

a metaphysical world of spirits

a work that deals with such metaphysical questions as the very nature of knowledge

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Although the machines’ inventor is concerned with metaphysical questions—do intelligent robots disprove God’s existence?—his engineer son sees the potential for major profit and manufactures robots for sale around the world, with disastrous results. —Elvia Wilk, The Atlantic, 18 Dec. 2024

Her interest in mysteries and the occult began in the metaphysical section at her local Borders. —Roya Backlund, StyleCaster, 13 Dec. 2024

The opportunity to complete his unfinished manuscript initially makes the film seem like a tribute to deadline extensions, but Youth Without Youth twists itself into a metaphysical phantasmagoria on age, consciousness, spirituality, and 20th-century evil. —Scott Tobias, Vulture, 27 Sep. 2024

It’s generally considered untestable, since metaphysical assumptions underlie all our efforts to conduct tests and interpret results. —Quanta Magazine, 30 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1887, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

metaphysical

adjective

meta·​phys·​i·​cal ˌmet-ə-ˈfiz-i-kəl 

1

: of, relating to, or based on metaphysics

2

: supernatural sense 1

3

: difficult to understand : abstract

metaphysically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb