Aristotelian

1 of 2

adjective

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

Aristotelianism

ˌa-rə-stə-ˈtēl-yə-ˌni-zəm 

noun

Aristotelianism

2 of 2

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

Examples of Aristotelian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Popularized by modern innovators and rooted in classical philosophy, specifically the Aristotelian concept of archai, this approach strips away complexity and exposes root causes of systemic challenges. — Tom Daly, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026

That creatures transform ran counter to Aristotelian science. — Literary Hub, 24 Nov. 2025

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

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

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin Aristoteles Aristotle, from Greek Aristotelēs

First Known Use

Adjective

1581, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for Aristotelian

• perihelion
• abelian
• hegelian
• karelian
• elian