a posteriori

[ey po-steer-ee-awr-ahy, -ohr-ahy, -awr-ee, -ohr-ee] / ˌeɪ pɒˌstɪər iˈɔr aɪ, -ˈoʊr aɪ, -ˈɔr i, -ˈoʊr i /

ADJECTIVE

involving reasoning from facts

Synonyms

WEAK

analytical empirical experimental from the latter inducible inductive logical practical

ADVERB

involving reasoning from facts

Synonyms

WEAK

analytical empirical experimental from the latter inducible inductive logical practical

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Cosmological arguments consider that which is found in experience—that is, they are a posteriori and move from observed effects to cause.

From Textbooks • Jun. 15, 2022

It is the directness of this knowledge that differentiates it from all other a posteriori knowledge.

From Textbooks • Jun. 15, 2022

This a posteriori saga gives us a refreshed Raphael, whose psychological acuity feels newly approachable.

From New York Times • Nov. 26, 2020

The maximum a posteriori value and minimal 68.3% credible interval from this posterior density function is .

From Nature • Oct. 15, 2017

In scholastic terms this was a debate over the reliability of a posteriori reasoning; in our terms it is a debate over the evidence of things, or over Evidence-Indices.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton