metaphysical

1 of 2

adjective

meta·​phys·​i·​cal ˌme-tə-ˈfi-zi-kəl 

1

: of or relating to metaphysics

metaphysical truth

metaphysical speculation

2

a

: of or relating to the transcendent (see transcendent sense 1) or to a reality beyond what is perceptible to the senses

fleeing from experience to a metaphysical realm

—John Dewey

b

: supernatural

fate and metaphysical aid doth seem to have thee crown'd

—William Shakespeare

3

: highly abstract or abstruse

also : theoretical

metaphysical reasoning

4

often capitalized : of or relating to poetry especially of the early 17th century that is highly intellectual and philosophical and marked by unconventional figurative language

metaphysical poets

metaphysically

ˌme-tə-ˈfi-zi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Metaphysical

2 of 2

noun

: a metaphysical poet of the 17th century

Synonyms

Adjective

• abstract
• conceptual
• ideal
• ideational
• notional
• theoretical
• theoretic

Examples of metaphysical in a Sentence

Adjective

a metaphysical world of spirits

a work that deals with such metaphysical questions as the very nature of knowledge

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Italy’s Tornabuoni Art has two 1960s metaphysical paintings by Giorgio de Chirico, often called the godfather of Surrealism, in its stand. —George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 17 Oct. 2024

Nineteenth-century Spiritualists at Lily Dale would feel right at home watching today's most popular New Age metaphysical teacher and medium, Esther Hicks, deliver messages from the spirit world. —Elizabeth Garner Masarik / Made By History, TIME, 16 Oct. 2024

My family's history has been largely silent for a century, so tracing my heritage back nearly 200 years and visiting the houses that once held their lives was nothing short of a metaphysical experience. —Asia London Palomba, Travel + Leisure, 12 Oct. 2024

Before dishing the dirt, and talking about the trials and tribulations of John Travolta, Schrader went all metaphysical. —Alan Friedman, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1887, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

metaphysical

adjective

meta·​phys·​i·​cal ˌmet-ə-ˈfiz-i-kəl 

1

: of, relating to, or based on metaphysics

2

: supernatural sense 1

3

: difficult to understand : abstract

metaphysically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb