metaphysic

noun meta·phys·ic \ ˌme-tə-ˈfi-zik \

Updated on: 30 Mar 2018

Definition of metaphysic

1 a : metaphysics

b : a particular system of metaphysics

2 : the system of principles underlying a particular study or subject : philosophy 3b

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metaphysic

adjective

Recent Examples of metaphysic from the Web

The university recently announced that Anjan Chakravartty, a professor of metaphysics and the philosophy of science at the University of Notre Dame, will hold the chair.

— isabel fattal, The Atlantic, "How Should Atheism Be Taught?," 31 Jan. 2018
Her way with metaphor implies a metaphysics, in her case a metaphysics informed by her Calvinism: History is a fabric.

— donovan hohn, New York Times, "Democracy’s Fierce Defender," 9 Mar. 2018
Presence has a long history in religion and philosophy, from Buddhist practices to the metaphysics of the 20th-century philosopher Martin Heidegger.

— marcel o’gorman, The Atlantic, "The Case for Locking Up Your Smartphone," 2 Feb. 2018
His trademark soul-searching about physics and metaphysics, politics and academia, sin and knowledge, spirit and matter, rings out in the classic, complex way.

— katie ward beim-esche, The Christian Science Monitor, "'La Belle Sauvage' will be like coming home for Philip Pullman fans," 12 Dec. 2017
The Theologia, dating from the time when Wycliffe was active, is an early example of a German-language metaphysics written to be accessible to those who were not educated to read Latin, the language of the church and the universities.

— marilynne robinson, New Republic, "The Luther Legend," 12 Dec. 2017
Well, if politics is downstream from culture, culture is downstream from metaphysics.

— pascal-emmanuel gobry, National Review, "We’re Too Afraid to Die," 2 Nov. 2017
That same technology has nudged receipts into the realm of metaphysics.

— wesley morris, New York Times, "In These Lying Times, ‘Receipts’ Offer a Glimmer of Justice," 24 Oct. 2017
The congregation uses prayers that omit any mention of God, and its teachings tend to emphasize science and human reason above spirit or metaphysics.

— mark oppenheimer, Washington Post, "Could this rabbi be a first in Congress?," 17 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'metaphysic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.