pataphysics

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noun

An absurdist philosophy or pseudoscience studying things "beyond" metaphysics.

OriginFrench pataphysique →
Scrabble 23
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Meanings

nounpataphysics (uncountable)

alternative 'pataphysics

  1. uncountableAn absurdist philosophy or pseudoscience studying things "beyond" metaphysics.

Origin

  1. Frenchpataphysique
  2. Englishpataphysics

Borrowed from French pataphysique, where it was coined by author Alfred Jarry from a pun deriving from the Ancient Greek title of a work by Aristotle; see pataphysique for more.

More words from French

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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