Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for transcendental

transcendental

[ tran-sen-den-tl, -suhn- ]

adjective

  1. transcendent, surpassing, or superior.
  2. being beyond ordinary or common experience, thought, or belief; supernatural.
  3. abstract or metaphysical.
  4. idealistic, lofty, or extravagant.
  5. Philosophy.
    1. beyond the contingent and accidental in human experience, but not beyond all human knowledge. Compare transcendent ( def 4b ).
    2. pertaining to certain theories, etc., explaining what is objective as the contribution of the mind.
    3. Kantianism. of, pertaining to, based upon, or concerned with a priori elements in experience, which condition human knowledge. Compare transcendent ( def 4b ).


noun

  1. Mathematics. transcendental number.
  2. transcendentals, Scholasticism. categories that have universal application, as being, one, true, good.

transcendental

/ ˌtrænsɛnˈdɛntəl /

adjective

  1. transcendent, superior, or surpassing
  2. in the philosophy of Kant
    1. (of a judgment or logical deduction) being both synthetic and a priori
    2. of or relating to knowledge of the presuppositions of thought
  3. philosophy beyond our experience of phenomena, although not beyond potential knowledge
  4. theol surpassing the natural plane of reality or knowledge; supernatural or mystical


Discover More

Derived Forms

  • ˌtranscenˈdentally, adverb
  • ˌtranscendenˈtality, noun

Discover More

Other Words From

  • transcen·den·tali·ty noun
  • transcen·dental·ly adverb
  • untran·scen·dental adjective
  • untran·scen·dental·ly adverb

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of transcendental1

From the Medieval Latin word trānscendentālis, dating back to 1615–25. See transcendent, -al 1

Discover More

Example Sentences

In mathematics, on the other hand, the meaning of the term “transcendental” is more mundane.

That doesn’t mean that I have turned into a transcendental person, a kind of celebrity or influencer, but the events that I recount below are the results of one of the most heartbreaking experiences of my life.

While every other process in the human body ticks and pulses away without our oversight, there is something uniquely transcendental about our experience of consciousness.

Transcendental Meditation is really becoming popular, with the David Lynch Foundation.

That was the David Lynch Foundation in the documentary, and they actually taught me Transcendental Meditation.

What else is a woman to wear during her transcendental meditation?

He also practices it by bringing transcendental techniques into the boardroom to create the mental environment to generate ideas.

And so he had that rational side to him, and then he had the transcendental side.

Old associations, having transcendental objects, were in course of revival, or were coming into renewed prominence.

Transcendental science claims to have the key of her doctrines, and there is evidence that she fears that claim.

Thunder consists, in their transcendental astronomy, of so many distinct spirits.

To this somewhat transcendental question Mrs. Furnival made no reply.

This is a problem that can no doubt embarrass the metaphysician, but not the transcendental philosopher.

Advertisement

Word of the Day

petrichor

[pet-ri-kawr]

Meaning and examples

Start each day with the Word of the Day in your inbox!

By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


transcendenttranscendental aesthetic