Ar·is·to·te·lian
ˌa-rə-stə-ˈtēl-yən 
variants
or less commonly Aristotelean
: of or relating to the Greek philosopher Aristotle or his philosophy
Aristotelian
noun
Ar·is·to·te·lian·ism
¦a-rə-stə-¦tēl-yə-ˌni-zəm
variants
or less commonly Aristotelism
ˈa-rə-ˌstä-tᵊl-ˌi-zəm
plural -s
1
: the philosophy of Aristotle that elaborates the fundamental principles of formal logic especially through the doctrine of the syllogism and holds that all reality is of particular things each of which is the union of matter and a form which is characteristic of its kind except that God is pure actuality, being the unmoved mover and unchanging cause of all change, and except that prime matter is pure potentiality compare category, catharsis, cause, form, matter, predicable
2
: a philosophy incorporating essential features of that of Aristotle with usually the inclusion of factors stemming from later ideological traditions
a mystical Aristotelianism also got into parts of the Jewish Cabala—
S. P. Lamprecht
S. P. LamprechtExamples of Aristotelian in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Lauren Groff, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2025
Largely accepted as scientific fact across Europe for nearly 2,000 years, Aristotelian astronomical theory formed the cornerstone of understanding prior to the scientific revolution.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 3 July 2025
For three years, Cristina immersed herself in the study of natural philosophy, Aristotelian physics and Cartesian geometry.
—Manuela Callari, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Mar. 2025
In the book, the murder happens in Montana, a reflection of Maclean’s Aristotelian commitment to unity of place but perhaps also a way of exorcising guilt over inviting his brother to Chicago, of telling himself that Paul would have met the same fate anywhere.
—Kathryn Schulz, The New Yorker, 1 July 2024
Farming offers time for reflection — an Aristotelian balance between nourishing and strengthening the physical body and deepening and improving our souls.
—Armstrong Williams, Baltimore Sun, 13 Mar. 2024
As Becky Wins And Stratton Shines For those who don’t know, first principles are an Aristotelian concept of finding axioms or ideas that don’t follow from any other proposition, theory or assumption.
—John Werner, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2024
The cultural synthesis of the High Middle Ages, which combined Christian religious beliefs with rationalistic Aristotelian philosophy, was an uneasy melding of dogma, reason, and appeals to authority.
—Peer Vries, Foreign Affairs, 8 Dec. 2016
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Adjective
Unlike most Western books, Lady Murasaki’s tale isn’t guided by an Aristotelian arc of action that steadily rises to a climax, followed by a denouement.
—Lauren Groff, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2025
Largely accepted as scientific fact across Europe for nearly 2,000 years, Aristotelian astronomical theory formed the cornerstone of understanding prior to the scientific revolution.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 3 July 2025
For three years, Cristina immersed herself in the study of natural philosophy, Aristotelian physics and Cartesian geometry.
—Manuela Callari, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Mar. 2025
In the book, the murder happens in Montana, a reflection of Maclean’s Aristotelian commitment to unity of place but perhaps also a way of exorcising guilt over inviting his brother to Chicago, of telling himself that Paul would have met the same fate anywhere.
—Kathryn Schulz, The New Yorker, 1 July 2024
Farming offers time for reflection — an Aristotelian balance between nourishing and strengthening the physical body and deepening and improving our souls.
—Armstrong Williams, Baltimore Sun, 13 Mar. 2024
As Becky Wins And Stratton Shines For those who don’t know, first principles are an Aristotelian concept of finding axioms or ideas that don’t follow from any other proposition, theory or assumption.
—John Werner, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2024
The cultural synthesis of the High Middle Ages, which combined Christian religious beliefs with rationalistic Aristotelian philosophy, was an uneasy melding of dogma, reason, and appeals to authority.
—Peer Vries, Foreign Affairs, 8 Dec. 2016
Cite this Entry
“Aristotelian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Aristotelian. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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