meinong: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowAcademic / Technical (Philosophy)
Quick answer
What does “meinong” mean?
A proper noun referring to Alexius Meinong, an Austrian philosopher known for his theory of objects and the concept of nonexistent objects.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A proper noun referring to Alexius Meinong, an Austrian philosopher known for his theory of objects and the concept of nonexistent objects.
Pertaining to the philosophical school, concepts, or theories developed by Meinong, especially concerning objects beyond being and non-being.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage between UK and US English. Both use it within the same narrow academic context.
Connotations
Scholarly, technical, associated with metaphysics and logic.
Frequency
Extremely rare outside of university philosophy departments or specific publications.
Grammar
How to Use “meinong” in a Sentence
Meinong argued that...According to Meinong,...the Meinongian view of...Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “meinong” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The Meinongian ontology is controversial.
American English
- She presented a Meinongian analysis of the paradox.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in philosophy, especially metaphysics, philosophy of language, and logic. E.g., 'The debate between Russell and Meinong centered on denoting phrases.'
Everyday
Never used.
Technical
Used technically to describe objects that have properties but do not exist (e.g., the golden mountain, the round square).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “meinong”
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “meinong”
- Using it as a verb or common noun.
- Misspelling as 'Mienong' or 'Meinung' (the German word for 'opinion').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a proper noun (a surname) adopted into English academic discourse, but it is not part of general English vocabulary.
It is pronounced /ˈmaɪnɒŋ/ (MY-nong), with the stress on the first syllable.
Yes, the derivative 'Meinongian' is the standard adjectival form used in philosophical writing.
In philosophy, it refers to an object that has properties or can be talked about but does not necessarily exist, such as 'the golden mountain' or 'the round square'.
A proper noun referring to Alexius Meinong, an Austrian philosopher known for his theory of objects and the concept of nonexistent objects.
Meinong is usually academic / technical (philosophy) in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'MY (mai) song (nong)' - Meinong sang a philosophical song about objects that don't exist.
Conceptual Metaphor
PHILOSOPHICAL THEORIES ARE LANDSCAPES (e.g., 'Meinong's jungle' of entities).
Practice
Quiz
What is 'Meinong' primarily known as?