a posteriori

[ ey po-steer-ee-awr-ahy, -ohr-ahy, -awr-ee, -ohr-ee ]
See synonyms for a posteriori on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. from particular instances to a general principle or law; based upon actual observation or upon experimental data: an a posteriori argument that derives the theory from the evidence.: Compare a priori (def. 1).

  2. not existing in the mind prior to or independent of experience.: Compare a priori (def. 2).

Origin of a posteriori

1
1615–25; <Latin: literally, from the one behind. See a-4, posterior

Words that may be confused with a posteriori

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for a posteriori

a posteriori

/ (eɪ pɒsˌtɛrɪˈɔːraɪ, -rɪ, ɑː) /


adjectivelogic
  1. relating to or involving inductive reasoning from particular facts or effects to a general principle

  2. derived from or requiring evidence for its validation or support; empirical; open to revision

  1. statistics See posterior probability

Origin of a posteriori

1
C18: from Latin, literally: from the latter (that is, from effect to cause)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012