epistemological

adjective

epis·​te·​mo·​log·​i·​cal i-ˌpi-stə-mə-ˈlä-ji-kəl How to pronounce epistemological (audio)
: of, relating to, or based on epistemology : relating to the study of the nature, origin, and limits of human knowledge
the epistemological problem
Critical realists could learn a little epistemological humility from philosophical pragmatism, the understanding … that, beyond the scale of immediate, non-controversial truth-statements, knowledge is indeed highly partial and fallible …James D. Proctor
Although epistemological and power differences between scientists and lay audiences remain, they can be offset through various kinds of collaboration.Dawn J. Wright et al.
How do we know that our holy books are free from error? Because the books themselves say so. Epistemological black holes of this sort are fast draining the light from our world.Sam Harris
epistemologically adverb
… only a handful of epistemologically privileged comrades and movie stars know the truth, and they are forever muzzled. New Republic

Examples of epistemological 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.
Taken together, the three books form a trilogy of epistemological uncertainty. Literary Hub, 10 Dec. 2025 Ringleader Dale abruptly leads his friends away in a procession to dinner, and the epistemological gulf is instantly forgotten. Derek Robertson, The Washington Examiner, 15 Aug. 2025 Debate continues over whether the Trump campaign’s podcast and new-media push actually helped secure his win last November, but that kind of epistemological ambiguity isn’t entirely new. Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 24 July 2025 The Case for Evidence-Based Regulation A fundamental distinction between DOGE and ORM is epistemological. James Broughel, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for epistemological

Word History

Etymology

epistemology + -ical

First Known Use

1854, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of epistemological was in 1854

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Epistemological.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/epistemological. Accessed 15 Dec. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!