apriorism

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noun

The idea that some knowledge of the physical world can be derived logically from general principles.

OriginFrench apriorisme →
Scrabble 13
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Meanings

nounapriorism (countable and uncountable, plural apriorisms)

plural apriorisms · alternative a priorism

  1. countableuncountablehuman sciencesThe idea that some knowledge of the physical world can be derived logically from general principles.

    The linguistic apriorism of Chomsky has stimulated some psychologists to search for nonlinguistic roots of language development.

    1982, Dan I Slobin, in Eric Wanner & Lila Gleitman, Language Acquisition, p. 128
    1 more example

    What was needed for modern science to take shape was a renunciation of their bookish a priorism, with its Aristotelian notion that all things can be deduced by logical, abstract argument from (ultimately arbitrary) first principles.

    2006, Philip Ball, The Devil's Doctor, Arrow, published 2007, page 51

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
rationalism

Origin

  1. Frenchapriorisme
  2. Englishapriorism

From a priori + -ism, after French apriorisme.

More words from French

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan apriorisme
  • apriorismethe idea that some knowledge of the physical world can be derived logically
French apriorisme
  • apriorismethe idea that some knowledge of the physical world can be derived logically
German Apriorismus
  • Apriorismusthe idea that some knowledge of the physical world can be derived logically
Greek απριορισμός
  • απριορισμός (apriorismós)the idea that some knowledge of the physical world can be derived logically
Italian apriorismo
  • apriorismothe idea that some knowledge of the physical world can be derived logically
Polish aprioryzm
  • aprioryzmthe idea that some knowledge of the physical world can be derived logically
Portuguese apriorismo
  • apriorismothe idea that some knowledge of the physical world can be derived logically
Cite this entry
APA

apriorism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/apriorism

MLA

“apriorism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/apriorism. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “apriorism,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/apriorism.

Source: apriorism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.