philosophical

adjective

phil·​o·​soph·​i·​cal ˌfi-lə-ˈsä-fi-kəl 

also -ˈzä-

variants or less commonly philosophic

ˌfi-lə-ˈsä-fik 

also -ˈzä-

1

a

: of or relating to philosophers or philosophy

b

: based on philosophy

2

: characterized by the attitude of a philosopher

specifically : calm or unflinching in the face of trouble, defeat, or loss

philosophically

ˌfi-lə-ˈsä-fi-k(ə-)lē 

also -ˈzä-

adverb

Examples of philosophical in a Sentence

They got into a philosophical debate about what it means for something to be “natural.”

He's trying to be philosophical about their decision since he knows he can't change it.

Recent Examples on the Web

As Lisa Feldman Barrett argues, its primary function is not to think in the philosophical sense, but to predict and regulate efficiently. —Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026

The film‘s uneven script, adapted by Maras and co-writer David Haig from Haig’s 2014 play, aims to artfully transform weather forecasting into a philosophical battlefield with impossible global stakes. —Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 26 May 2026

The community’s letters are rangy—friendly, philosophical, paranoid, flirtatious. —Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 26 May 2026

Shamet became one of the beneficiaries of that philosophical shift, and now, one of the reasons New York is four wins from a title. —Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 26 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing philosophical

• philosophical analysis

Rhymes for philosophical

• theosophical
• unphilosophical

Kids Definition

philosophical

adjective

philo·​soph·​i·​cal

ˌfil-ə-ˈsäf-i-kəl

variants also philosophic

-ik

1

: of, relating to, or based on philosophy

2

: characterized by the attitude of a philosopher

especially : calm and patient when faced with trouble

philosophically

-i-k(ə-)lē

adverb