a priori

a pri·o·ri

adjective \ˌä-prē-ˈȯr-ē, ˌa-; ˌā-(ˌ)prī-ˈȯr-ˌī, -ˌprē-ˈȯr-ē\

Definition of A PRIORI

1

a : deductive

b : relating to or derived by reasoning from self-evident propositions — compare a posteriori

c : presupposed by experience

2

a : being without examination or analysis : presumptive

b : formed or conceived beforehand

— a priori adverb

— apri·or·i·ty \-ˈȯr-ə-tē\ noun

Examples of A PRIORI

1. There's no a priori reason to think your expenses will remain the same in a new city.
2. <an a priori argument for the defendant's innocence>

Origin of A PRIORI

Latin, literally, from the former

First Known Use: 1652

Related to A PRIORI

Synonyms

deductive, deducible, derivable, inferable (also inferrible), inferential, reasoned

Antonyms

nondeductive

Related Words

conjectural, hypothetical, purported, supposed, suppositional; academic (also academical), speculative, theoretical (also theoretic); logical, rational

Near Antonyms

inducible, inductive; absolute, categorical (also categoric), definite, explicit, express; instinctive, intuitive; illogical, irrational

Rhymes with A PRIORI

allegory, amatory, auditory, bedtime story, cacciatore, castratory, category, con amore, cover story, crematory, damnatory, decretory, dilatory, dormitory, excretory, expletory, feudatory, fumitory, Göteborg, gustatory, gyratory, horror story, hortatory, hunky-dory, inventory, laudatory, lavatory, mandatory, migratory, minatory, monitory, Montessori, morning glory, nugatory, offertory, oratory, overstory, piscatory, precatory, predatory, prefatory, probatory, promissory, promontory, purgatory, repertory, Ruwenzori, signatory, statutory, sudatory, territory, transitory, understory, vibratory, vomitory, yakitori

a priori

   (Concise Encyclopedia)

In epistemology, knowledge that is independent of all particular experiences, as opposed to a posteriori (or empirical) knowledge, which derives from experience. The terms have their origins in the medieval Scholastic debate over Aristotelian concepts (see Scholasticism). Immanuel Kant initiated their current usage, pairing the analytic-synthetic distinction with the a priori–a posteriori distinction to define his theory of knowledge.