meta·phys·i·cal
ˌme-tə-ˈfi-zi-kəl 
1
: of or relating to metaphysics
metaphysical truth
metaphysical speculation
2
a
: of or relating to the transcendent (see transcendent sense 1) or to a reality beyond what is perceptible to the senses
fleeing from experience to a metaphysical realm—
John Dewey
John Dewey
b
: supernatural
fate and metaphysical aid doth seem to have thee crown'd—William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare3
: highly abstract or abstruse
4
often capitalized
: of or relating to poetry especially of the early 17th century that is highly intellectual and philosophical and marked by unconventional figurative language
metaphysical poets
: a metaphysical poet of the 17th century
Examples of metaphysical in a Sentence
Adjective
a metaphysical world of spirits
a work that deals with such metaphysical questions as the very nature of knowledge
Recent Examples on the Web
A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2025
Owning pets is also a metaphysical threat to the fabric of reality, even for straights.
—Samantha Riedel, Them., 21 Apr. 2025
The Spiritual Arts Institute, a nonprofit educational organization, has been offering metaphysical training and instruction for nine years at its Encinitas location, after moving here from Los Angeles.
—Jeanne Rawdin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Apr. 2025
The song borders on the absurd, but its faith in the metaphysical properties of a melody is infectious.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for metaphysical
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.
Adjective
Photo: Alfama Films No one writes dialogue like Cronenberg — perplexing alien dialogue, a sci-fi tongue of oddball terminology and metaphysical shop talk.
—A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2025
Owning pets is also a metaphysical threat to the fabric of reality, even for straights.
—Samantha Riedel, Them., 21 Apr. 2025
The Spiritual Arts Institute, a nonprofit educational organization, has been offering metaphysical training and instruction for nine years at its Encinitas location, after moving here from Los Angeles.
—Jeanne Rawdin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Apr. 2025
The song borders on the absurd, but its faith in the metaphysical properties of a melody is infectious.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for metaphysical
Cite this Entry
“Metaphysical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/metaphysical. Accessed 9 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
metaphysical
adjective
meta·phys·i·cal
ˌmet-ə-ˈfiz-i-kəl
1
: of, relating to, or based on metaphysics
3
: difficult to understand : abstract
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share