quale

noun

qua·​le ˈkwä-lē How to pronounce quale (audio)
-ˌlā
plural qualia ˈkwä-lē-ə How to pronounce quale (audio)
1
: a property (such as redness) considered apart from things having the property : universal
2
: a property as it is experienced as distinct from any source it might have in a physical object

Examples of quale in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The hard problem is explaining how and why beings have conscious, subjective experiences at all (qualia in philosophical parlance). Kevin Dickinson, Big Think, 20 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin, neuter of qualis of what kind

First Known Use

1675, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of quale was in 1675

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Cite this Entry

“Quale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quale. Accessed 6 Sep. 2025.

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