ontology
Pluralontologies (some meanings)
- 1The part of philosophy that asks what it means for something to exist and what kinds of things exist.
In her philosophy class, they studied ontology and argued about what is really real.
Ontology asks questions like what makes a thing a thing.
UsageSay ontology without the, like ethics.
Note
- 2A model of the ideas and things in a subject area and how they are linked to each other.
The library uses an ontology to connect books, authors, and topics.
Our team needs a clear ontology before we can build the search feature.
UsageA taxonomy puts things into groups. An ontology also shows other links between them.
Note
- 3The set of things a particular theory or thinker believes really exist.
In the world of the game, dragons and magic are part of the ontology.
Her ontology has room for numbers and ideas, not just things you can touch.
Note
Less common meaning
- 4A system of logic about names and the word "is", created by Stanisław Leśniewski (1886–1939).
Practice
Can you tell the meanings of ontology apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.
Origin
From Greek words meaning "being" and "account".
Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts
- Ontology ultimately derives from Greek ontos and logos. en.wiktionary.org
- The first Greek component means being. en.wiktionary.org
- The second Greek component can mean account. en.wiktionary.org