conatus: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very RareSpecialist / Academic / Philosophical
Quick answer
What does “conatus” mean?
An innate impulse or striving by a thing to continue to exist and enhance itself.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An innate impulse or striving by a thing to continue to exist and enhance itself; an effort or endeavour.
In philosophy (especially Spinoza, Hobbes, Leibniz), the inherent tendency of a being to persist in its own existence and seek self-preservation. It can refer to a directed effort or force.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Pronunciation differences follow general BrE/AmE patterns for Latin-derived terms.
Connotations
Equally academic and archaic-sounding in both variants.
Frequency
Extremely rare in everyday language in both regions, confined almost entirely to academic philosophical texts.
Grammar
How to Use “conatus” in a Sentence
the conatus of [noun phrase]a conatus to [infinitive verb phrase] (e.g., to persevere)[possessive] conatus (e.g., its conatus)Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in philosophy, ethics, and history of ideas to discuss theories of self-preservation and vitalism.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Used as a precise philosophical term with a specific history, particularly in Spinozist scholarship.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “conatus”
- Treating it as a verb (it is a noun).
- Using it in everyday contexts where it sounds pretentious.
- Mispronouncing it as /ˈkɒnətəs/ (stressing the first syllable).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a very rare, specialist term used almost exclusively in academic philosophy and related literary contexts.
The plural is 'conatus' (identical to the singular) or the Latin plural 'conatūs'. In English academic writing, 'conatus' is often treated as a mass noun or used with the same form for singular and plural.
It is not recommended, as it will sound obscure and overly formal. Synonyms like 'effort', 'striving', or 'drive' are far more appropriate for general communication.
Baruch Spinoza, who used 'conatus' as a central concept in his metaphysics and ethics to describe each thing's innate striving to persevere in existence.
An innate impulse or striving by a thing to continue to exist and enhance itself.
Conatus is usually specialist / academic / philosophical in register.
Conatus: in British English it is pronounced /kəʊˈneɪtəs/, and in American English it is pronounced /koʊˈneɪtəs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The conatus to live”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CONeATUS (a cone with an 'atus' ending) – it's a pointed, directed effort to reach a goal.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A STRIVING FORCE; EXISTENCE IS AN EFFORTFUL PERSISTENCE.
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the word 'conatus' primarily used?