apriorism: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Academic
Quick answer
What does “apriorism” mean?
The philosophical doctrine that knowledge can be derived from theoretical reasoning, independent of or prior to experience.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The philosophical doctrine that knowledge can be derived from theoretical reasoning, independent of or prior to experience.
An assertion or belief that is accepted as true without requiring empirical verification or based purely on theoretical deduction. Can be used pejoratively to label a dogmatic assumption.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage; the term is equally rare in both academic English variants.
Connotations
Slight tendency for a more negative connotation (dogmatism) in informal academic critique in the US, while UK usage may retain a slightly more neutral, historical-philosophical tone.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both varieties. Found almost exclusively in philosophical texts, advanced humanities papers, and intellectual critiques.
Grammar
How to Use “apriorism” in a Sentence
[Subject]'s apriorismthe apriorism of [theory/philosopher]accuse [someone] of apriorismargue against apriorismVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “apriorism” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [No common verb form; 'apriorise' is non-standard]
American English
- [No common verb form; 'apriorize' is non-standard]
adverb
British English
- [No common adverb form; 'aprioristically' is extremely rare and stylistically marked]
American English
- [No common adverb form; 'aprioristically' is extremely rare and stylistically marked]
adjective
British English
- His aprioristic approach to ethics left little room for case studies.
- The argument was dismissed as being fundamentally aprioristic.
American English
- The theory's aprioristic framework was its greatest weakness.
- She challenged the aprioristic assumptions of the model.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Primary context. Used in philosophy, critical theory, history of ideas, and occasionally in theoretical social sciences to critique non-empirical foundations.
Everyday
Extremely rare; would likely be misunderstood.
Technical
Used as a precise term in philosophical epistemology and metaethics.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “apriorism”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “apriorism”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “apriorism”
- Misspelling: 'apriorism' (correct) vs. 'aprioriism' or 'a-priorism'.
- Mispronunciation: stressing the first syllable (/ˈeɪpraɪ.../) instead of the third (/...ˈɔːr.../).
- Using it as a synonym for any assumption, rather than a specific philosophical stance on the source of knowledge.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. 'A priori' is an adjective or adverb describing knowledge or reasoning independent of experience. 'Apriorism' is the noun form naming the philosophical doctrine or tendency that emphasises or relies on such reasoning.
Yes, in neutral philosophical discourse it can describe a legitimate epistemological position (e.g., rationalist apriorism). However, in many contemporary contexts, especially in the sciences, it carries a negative charge, implying a disregard for evidence.
René Descartes, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, and Immanuel Kant are classic proponents of various forms of apriorism or a priori knowledge. Kant's 'Critique of Pure Reason' is a foundational text on the subject.
The adjective is 'aprioristic'. It is uncommon but used in academic writing to describe theories, methods, or assumptions that are derived from principle rather than experience (e.g., 'an aprioristic argument').
The philosophical doctrine that knowledge can be derived from theoretical reasoning, independent of or prior to experience.
Apriorism is usually formal, academic in register.
Apriorism: in British English it is pronounced /ˌeɪpraɪˈɔːrɪz(ə)m/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌeɪpraɪˈɔrɪzəm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[None directly associated; term is itself technical]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'A PRIORI' + 'ISM'. 'A priori' means 'from before (experience)'. An 'ism' is a doctrine. So, apriorism is the doctrine of reasoning from before experience.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWLEDGE IS A DEDUCTIVE CONSTRUCTION (built from first principles, like a logical proof, rather than gathered from the world).
Practice
Quiz
In a negative critique, 'apriorism' is closest in meaning to: