English · Arts & Literature
existential
/ˌɛɡ.zɪˈstɛn.ʃəl/
[/ˌɛɡ.zɪˈstɛn.ʃəl/]
relating to existence and meaning
Advancedadjective
Definition
Something existential relates to human existence and the search for meaning. Speakers discuss existential questions about purpose and mortality.
Example
The crisis raised existential questions about our future.
The crisis raised existential questions about our future.
Etymology
From Latin 'existentia', meaning existence.
How & Where It’s Used
Used in talks on philosophy, meaning, and big-picture risk.
Literary Heritage
Associated with 20th-century existentialist philosophy and writers like Sartre and Camus.