dialectics

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/daɪəˈlɛktɪks/

noun

A systematic method of argument that attempts to resolve the contradictions in opposing views or ideas.

“The dialectics of absolute and relative, concrete and abstract, subject and object, and theory and practice is focused on some of the most important questions in philosophy.”

Similar
dialecticdialectical method
OriginAncient Greek διαλεκτική →
UncommonScrabble 15
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Meanings

dialectics1

noundialectics (uncountable)
  1. uncountablehuman sciencesA systematic method of argument that attempts to resolve the contradictions in opposing views or ideas.

    The dialectics of absolute and relative, concrete and abstract, subject and object, and theory and practice is focused on some of the most important questions in philosophy.

    1 more example

    None of these processes and modes of thought enters into the framework of metaphysical reasoning. Dialectics, on the other hand, comprehends things and their representations, ideas, in their essential connection, concatenation, motion, origin and ending. Such processes as those mentioned above are, therefore, so many corroborations of its own method of procedure.

    1880, Friedrich Engels, chapter 2, in Socialism: Utopian and Scientific

    Synonyms: dialectic, dialectical method

dialectics2

noun
  1. pluralplural of dialectic

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA systematic method of argument that attempts to resolve the contradictions in opposing views or ideas.

Similar
dialecticdialectical method
Also see
dialectical method

Origin

dialectics · noun

  1. Ancient Greekδιαλεκτική“the art of argument through interactive questioning and answering”
  2. Englishdialectics

From Ancient Greek διαλεκτική (dialektikḗ, “the art of argument through interactive questioning and answering”), from διαλεκτικός (dialektikós, “competent debater”), from διαλέγομαι (dialégomai, “to participate in a dialogue”), from διά (diá, “inter, through”) + λέγειν (légein, “to speak”).

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

dialectics · noun

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 辯證法 /辩证法
  • 辯證法 /辩证法 (biànzhèngfǎ)systematic method of argument
Czech dialektika
  • dialektikasystematic method of argument
Esperanto dialektiko
  • dialektikosystematic method of argument
Finnish dialektiikka
  • dialektiikkasystematic method of argument
French dialectique
  • dialectiquesystematic method of argument
German Dialektik
  • Dialektiksystematic method of argument
Irish dialachtaíocht
  • dialachtaíochtsystematic method of argument
Italian dialettica
  • dialetticasystematic method of argument
Polish dialektyka
  • dialektykasystematic method of argument
Portuguese dialética
  • dialéticasystematic method of argument
Punjabi ਦਵੰਦਵਾਦ
  • ਦਵੰਦਵਾਦ (davandvād)systematic method of argument
Russian диале́ктика
  • диале́ктика (dialéktika)systematic method of argument
Spanish dialéctica
  • dialécticasystematic method of argument

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

cesticidal
Cite this entry
APA

dialectics. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dialectics

MLA

“dialectics.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dialectics. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “dialectics,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dialectics.

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