First Known Use: 1652
Dictionary
a priori
adjective a pri·o·ri \ˌä-prē-ˈȯr-ē, ˌa-; ˌā-(ˌ)prī-ˈȯr-ˌī, -ˌprē-ˈȯr-ē\
: relating to what can be known through an understanding of how certain things work rather than by observation
Full Definition of A PRIORI
1
a : deductive b : relating to or derived by reasoning from self-evident propositions — compare a posteriori c : presupposed by experience
2
a : being without examination or analysis : presumptive b : formed or conceived beforehand
— a priori adverb
— apri·or·i·ty \-ˈȯr-ə-tē\ noun
See a priori defined for English-language learners
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Origin of A PRIORI
Latin, literally, from the former
Related to A PRIORI
- Synonyms
- deductive, deducible, derivable, inferable (also inferrible), inferential, reasoned
- Antonyms
- nondeductive
Rhymes with A PRIORI
allegory, amatory, auditory, bedtime story, cacciatore, castratory, category, con amore, cover story, crematory, damnatory, decretory, dilatory, dormitory, excretory, expletory, feudatory, fumitory, Göteborg, gustatory, gyratory, horror story, hortatory, hunky-dory, inventory, laudatory, lavatory, mandatory, migratory, minatory, monitory, Montessori, morning glory, nugatory, offertory, oratory, overstory, piscatory, precatory, predatory, prefatory, probatory, promissory, promontory, purgatory, repertory, Ruwenzori, signatory, statutory, sudatory, territory, transitory, understory, vibratory, vomitory, yakitori
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