existential
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existential
- /ˌɛɡzɪˈstɛnʃl̩/ UK
- /ˌɛɡzɪˈstɛn(t)ʃəl/ Canada, US
- /ˌɛksɪ-/ Canada, US
Rhymes with -ɛnʃəl
Where it comes from
The adjective is a learned borrowing from Late Latin existentiālis, exsistentiālis (“coming into or relating to existence”) + English -al (suffix meaning ‘of or pertaining to’ forming adjectives; and forming nouns of verbal action). Existentiālis, exsistentiālis are derived from Late Latin existentia, exsistentia (“existence”) + Latin -ālis (suffix forming adjectives of relationship); and existentia, exsistentia from Latin existēns, exsistēns (“being, existing; appearing, emerging; becoming”) (the present active participle of existō, exsistō (“to be, exist; to appear, emerge; to become”), from ex- (prefix meaning ‘away; out’) + sistō (“to cause to stand; to place, set; to halt, stop”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- (“to stand (up)”))) + -ia (suffix forming feminine abstract nouns).
The noun is derived from the adjective.
adjective more existential · most existential
-
Of or relating to existence.
The third univerſal is appetite; every perfect and imperfect living creature acquires ſuſtenance to eate and drink. For exiſtential or ſenſual, I grant many, that there is a Sun that ſhineth, that the fire heateth, &c. yet a blind man and the Paralytick denies both.
Opposite: nonexistential
-
Concerning the very existence of something, especially with regard to evading extinction.
an existential risk or threat
Opposite: nonexistential
-
Of an assertion, etc.: assuming or suggesting the existence of something.
In recent books on logic, distinction is made between two orders of inquiry concerning anything. First, what is the nature of it? how did it come about? what is its constitution, origin, and history? And second, What is its importance, meaning, or significance, now that it is once here? The answer t
Opposite: nonexistential
-
Of or relating to existentialism (“a philosophical movement emphasizing the uniqueness of each human existence in freely making its self-defining choices”).
Some existential thinkers are concerned with artistic expression only indirectly, that is, they are passionately interested critics and analysts of art works.
Opposite: nonmetaphysical, nonphenomenal, noumenal
- Relating to part of a clause that indicates existence (for example, there is).
noun existentials
- Ellipsis of existential clause (“a clause that indicates the existence of something”). In classical accounts of Finnish and Estonian grammar, the possibility of using the so-called partitive subject has been one definitional criterion for the category of existential clauses. […] We argue that existentials form a radial category, with a prototype and less canonical instances, where the
- Ellipsis of existential type (“in a type system: a type that hides the underlying concrete type(s)”).
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: empirical, experiential, existence, fundamental, essential, survival, vital, chargé, ontological, ontic, phenomenological, real, actual, factual, concrete, tangible
Translations
Every language
adj of or relating to existence
| Español | existencial |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 실존적 siljonjeok |
| 日本語 | 実存的な jitsuzonteki na |
| 中文 | 存在性 cúnzàixìng, 有關存在的 /有关存在的 |
| Português | existencial |
| Français | existentiel |
| Deutsch | existentiell |
| Italiano | esistenziale |
| Ελληνικά | υπαρξιακός yparxiakós |
| Română | existențial |
| Русский | экзистенциа́льный ekzistɛnciálʹnyj |
| العربية | وُجُودِيّ wujūdiyy |
| עברית | קיומי |
adj of or relating to existentialism
| Español | existencialista |
|---|---|
| 中文 | 存在主義的 /存在主义的 |
| Ελληνικά | υπαρξιστικός yparxistikós |
adj relating to part of a clause that indicates existence
| Español | existencial |
|---|
Talk about this word "existential." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/existential. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. existential. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/existential "existential." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/existential.Cite this
@misc{existential_2026,
title = {existential},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/existential},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
