Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
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noun
The branch of metaphysics that addresses the nature or essential characteristics of being and of things that exist; the study of being qua being.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncountable
Topics: human-sciences, philosophy, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
In a subject view, or a world view, the set of conceptual or material things or classes of things that are recognised as existing, or are assumed to exist in context, and their interrelations; in a body of theory, the ontology comprises the domain of discourse, the things that are defined as existing, together with whatever emerges from their mutual implications.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncountable
Topics: human-sciences, philosophy, sciences
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
The theory of a particular philosopher or school of thought concerning the fundamental types of entity in the universe.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable
Topics: human-sciences, philosophy, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A logical system involving theory of classes, developed by Stanislaw Lesniewski (1886-1939).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: human-sciences, logic, mathematics, philosophy, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A structure of concepts or entities within a domain, organized by relationships; a system model.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable
Topics: computer, computing, engineering, human-sciences, information-science, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, science, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
the metaphysical study of the nature of being and existence
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: metaphysics
noun
(computer science) a rigorous and exhaustive organization of some knowledge domain that is usually hierarchical and contains all the relevant entities and their relations
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: arrangement, organization, organisation, system
History
Learned borrowing from New Latin ontologia (1606, Ogdoas Scholastica, by Jacob Lorhard (Lorhardus)), from Ancient Greek ὤν, ὄντος (ṓn, óntos, “being”), present participle of εἰμί (eimí, “being, existing, essence”) + λόγος (lógos, “account”). By surface analysis, onto- + -logy. First known English use 1663: Archelogia philosophica nova; or, New principles of Philosophy. Containing Philosophy in general, Metaphysicks or Ontology, Dynamilogy or a Discourse of Power, Religio Philosophi or Natural Theology, Physicks or Natural philosophy, by Gideon Harvey (1636–1702), London, Thomson, 1663. Popularized as a philosophical term by German philosopher Christian Wolff (1679–1754).
Across languages
75 source translations are retained for this English entry.
