What does metaphysic mean?
Metaphysic is a formal and relatively uncommon noun with two closely related uses. It can name the branch of philosophy that investigates the fundamental nature of reality, existence, and being, or it can refer to a particular system of metaphysical principles, such as those associated with Aristotle, Descartes, or Kant. In contemporary English, “metaphysics” is overwhelmingly preferred for the discipline itself; “metaphysic” tends to appear in historical, philosophical, or comparative discussion. The word may also occur rarely as an adjective meaning “metaphysical,” especially in established expressions such as “metaphysic necessity.” Although the vocabulary is difficult, it is useful when a writer needs to distinguish a coherent philosophical framework from metaphysics considered broadly. Its air of abstraction also suits academic prose, where it can evoke fundamental questions about reality, causation, identity, and the relation between mind and world.
The branch of philosophy concerned with the nature of reality, existence, and being, or a particular system of philosophical principles addressing those subjects.
"The lecture traced how Aristotelian categories shaped the Western metaphysic."
The singular noun is now less common than “metaphysics” and is especially used for a particular philosophical system.
Relating to metaphysics or to a metaphysical system.
"They rejected the idea of metaphysic necessity in favour of an empirical explanation."
This adjective use is rare and is chiefly encountered in academic or historical writing.
The regular plural of metaphysic is metaphysics. When the word names the philosophical discipline, it normally remains singular in usage: “She studies metaphysics.”
"The course compared the metaphysical systems of Aristotle and Descartes."
Aristotle’s “things after nature” became metaphysics—the branch of philosophy about what reality ultimately is.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does metaphysic come from?
The word entered English from Medieval Latin metaphysica, a term derived from Greek metaphysikos, meaning “pertaining to physics or nature.” Its elements meta- (“after” or “beyond”) and physikos (“natural”) reflect the Greek title of Aristotle’s Metaphysics, literally “the things after nature.” Metaphysic emerged in English in the early 16th century; related forms such as physics and physical descend from the same Greek natural-philosophy root, while metaphysics preserves the compound.
Related word forms
How metaphysic is actually used
Formal and relatively uncommon. In modern academic prose, “metaphysics” is normally preferred when referring to the discipline, while “metaphysic” often denotes a particular philosophical framework or appears in historical comparisons.
Easily confused with metaphysic
Metaphysics ordinarily names the philosophical discipline as a whole, whereas metaphysic can refer to a particular system of metaphysical principles.