What does existential mean?
The adjective "existential" pertains to existence itself — the state of being — and, by extension, to the deep questions that arise from it. In philosophy it is closely tied to existentialism, a movement holding that individuals must confront freedom, responsibility, and the absence of predetermined meaning. In ordinary language the word has drifted toward urgent practical matters: an "existential crisis" is a moment of doubt about one's identity or purpose, while an "existential threat" is one capable of destroying something outright, whether a species, a company, or a nation. This second sense has become especially common in discussions of climate change, nuclear weapons, and artificial intelligence. Derived from the Latin verb "existere," meaning to stand forth or come into being, the word carries connotations of gravity and urgency wherever it appears. Its flexibility — spanning abstract metaphysics and concrete survival — makes it a staple of both scholarly discourse and contemporary rhetoric.
adjectiveRelating to existence or the nature of being; in philosophy, concerning the immediate lived experience of the individual rather than abstract theory. In everyday use, relating to questions of life, death, meaning, or survival — often describing a threat or crisis that strikes at the very existence of something.
- Of or relating to existence, especially human existence and the conditions of being.
- (Philosophy) Relating to existentialism, which emphasizes individual freedom, choice, and responsibility.
- Relating to a threat or issue that endangers the very existence of a person, organization, or thing.
"Climate change poses an existential threat to low-lying island nations."
"After losing his job at fifty, he faced an existential crisis about what his life had meant."
"Sartre argued that humans must create their own values — a central claim of existential philosophy."
The same word philosophers used to describe the anguish of human freedom now headlines corporate boardrooms warning of 'existential threats' — from AI to climate change.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of existential
The word "existential" derives from the Late Latin "existentialis," formed on "existere" (also written "exsistere"), meaning "to stand forth, emerge, come into being." The root combines the prefix "ex-" (out) with "sistere" (to cause to stand), a reduplicated form related to "stare" (to stand). English adopted "existential" in its modern philosophical sense during the 19th century as German and Danish thinkers such as Hegel and Kierkegaard explored the conditions of human existence, and the term became firmly associated with the existentialist movement in the 20th century through Sartre and Heidegger. Cognates include "existence," "existent," and "exist" — all built on the same Latin stem.
Related word forms
How existential is actually used
In formal philosophical writing, "existential" refers specifically to the tradition of existentialism (Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Sartre, Camus). In journalism and everyday speech it has taken on a looser, often hyperbolic sense: any grave danger may be labelled an "existential threat," which some critics consider overuse. It also appears in logic, where "existential" describes quantifiers asserting that something exists.
Easily confused with existential
"Existent" means actually existing or real, while "existential" relates to existence itself, especially as a matter of meaning, experience, or survival.
"Existence" is the noun naming the fact of being alive or real, whereas "existential" is an adjective describing things that pertain to or threaten that being.