philosophical
/ˌfɪl.əˈsɒf.ɪ.kl̩/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
Of, or pertaining to, philosophy.
Adjective
Examples
“For most of human history, the question of whether or not life exists elsewhere has belonged only within the philosophical realm,” said Howard Chen, study author and Ph.D candidate at Northwestern University.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
Rational; analytic or critically minded; thoughtful.
Adjective
Examples
His richly philosophical intellect was not at any time affected by unrealities.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “philosophical” mean?
Of, or pertaining to, philosophy.
Is “philosophical” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.