a priori

1. 1
   adjective

   Based on ideas and theory, not on experiments or on what people have seen and measured.

   Many people think math is a priori knowledge: you don't need an experiment to know that two plus two is four.

   The team made an a priori guess from theory first, and then ran tests to check it.

   Similartheoretical, deductive

   Oppositeempirical, experiential

   Note
2. 2
   assumedadjective

   Believed to be true without anyone checking or thinking it through.

   Try not to make a priori judgments about people you have just met.

   The manager's a priori belief that the old plan was best kept anyone from checking the numbers.

   Similarpreconceived, presumptive

3. 3
   adverb

   By working things out from theory, not by watching or testing what happens.

   You can know a priori that a square has four sides, without measuring one.

   She solved the puzzle a priori, using only its rules and no trial and error.

   Similardeductively, theoretically

   Oppositeinductively

   Note
4. 4
   obviousadjective

   So clearly true that you just know it without any proof.

   To him it was a priori that you help a friend in trouble, and he never needed a reason.

   The rule seemed so a priori to her that she was surprised anyone asked why.

   Similarself-evident, axiomatic, intuitive, obvious

5. 5
   invented languageadjective

   Describes an invented language that is made from nothing, not based on any language that already exists.

   He built an a priori language for his game, so none of its words come from a real language.

   Creating an a priori language takes years, because you have to invent every word yourself.

   Note

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