as in reasonable
formal
relating to what can be known by observation rather than through an understanding of how certain things work
an a posteriori explanation
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Recent Examples of a posteriori
This a posteriori saga gives us a refreshed Raphael, whose psychological acuity feels newly approachable.
—
Roberta Smith, New York Times, 26 Nov. 2020
Roberta Smith, New York Times, 26 Nov. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for a posteriori
Adjective
-
There's no-contact check-in and the rooms are reasonable.—
Wilder Davies,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Injecting an element of randomness and uncertainty into the process is reasonable, given that in the real world, measurements are never exact.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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This sort of a priori justification for ESAs explains a few things.—
Chandler Fritz,
Harpers Magazine,
20 Aug. 2025
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These new loops manufacture demand, legitimacy, and cultural weight—not because of what the content says, but because of how it was engineered a priori.—
Emil Steiner,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
His free-throw stroke looked good, buoyed by sinking all but two of his eight attempts.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Oct. 2025
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Another factor is whether your partnership's no-trump range is a strict 15-17 or includes good 14-counts.—
Deb Harvell,
Arkansas Online,
12 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“A posteriori.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/a%20posteriori. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.
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