Phrase guide

qualitative leap

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

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.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A qualitative, non-gradual change resulting from a quantitatively minor change.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: human-sciences, philosophy, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: dialectical leap

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Modified from dialectical leap, the latter a calque of German dialektischer Sprung, a concept from Hegel's dialectical method. The modifier qualitative means that the leap in question is a transition in quality, where the latter should be understood in its original sense of “what-ness”, that is, the kind or nature of something.