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existential

existential

66 8.5
Relating to questions about life and personal meaning
  • adjective
  • /ˌɛksɪˈstɛnʃəl/
translation icon : existencial
  • Many people struggle with existential questions about the purpose of life.
  • an existential threat
  • existential questions
  • existential anxiety

But I think that we are facing an existential threat and it's come about.

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Examples

  • If China wins capitalism, this is going to be an existential threat for humanity.

  • And there are many more more important existential questions that we need to ask today.

  • But I think that we are facing an existential threat and it's come about.

  • Well, in this case, it was we saw an existential sort of a threat.

  • And, and so going out does create some existential threat for us back here on Earth.

  • At present, the human race is facing an existential crisis.

  • We're playing an existential game right now with existence.

  • The arts allow one to engage important existential questions: Who am I?

    Academic text (2011)
  • Confronting death brings into focus existential dimensions of our lives.

  • We may confront some of the fundamental existential questions that we usually spend our lives avoiding.

    Academic text (1991)

Compounds

A philosophy that says people create their own meaning by choosing freely and taking responsibility

existential operator
  • Specialized
9.9

A symbol showing that at least one thing exists that makes a statement true

A philosopher who studies personal freedom, responsibility, and life's meaning

9.9

A symbol or word in logic that shows at least one thing meets a condition

Surface Forms

existential positive

Morphology

existential = exist (semi-transparent) = exist + ential

The adjective is formed from 'exist' with an adjective-forming suffix, but its philosophical and psychological uses are somewhat specialized.

Etymology

Existential comes from the simpler word exist, which is built from Latin parts ex- 'out' and sistere 'to stand', so it originally meant 'to stand out' or 'be there'. So, existential describes big questions about 'existence' or 'being', like worries about the meaning of life.