Gettier problem

noun

The epistemological problem that a description of knowledge as “justified true belief” is not adequate: there are counterexamples where a person has justified true belief of something and yet does not know it to be true.

Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

nounGettier problem (plural Gettier problems)

plural Gettier problems

  1. human sciencesThe epistemological problem that a description of knowledge as “justified true belief” is not adequate: there are counterexamples where a person has justified true belief of something and yet does not know it to be true.

Origin

Attributed to American philosopher Edmund Gettier.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish Gettierin ongelma
  • Gettierin ongelmaTranslations
German Gettier-Problem
  • Gettier-ProblemTranslations
Japanese ゲティア問題
  • ゲティア問題Translations
Polish problem Gettiera
  • problem GettieraTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

Gettier problem. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Gettier%20problem

MLA

“Gettier problem.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Gettier%20problem. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Gettier problem,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Gettier%20problem.

Source: Gettier problem on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.