A priori ('from the earlier') and a posteriori ('from the later') are Latin phrases used in philosophy and linguistics to distinguish types of knowledge, justification, or argument by their reliance on experience.

A posteriori is from Latin ā posteriōrī, which means literally, "from what is later." It describes knowledge based solely on experience or personal observation.

“A priori” and “a posteriori” refer primarily to how, or on what basis, a proposition might be known. In general terms, a proposition is knowable a priori if it is knowable independently of experience, while …

Knowledge that is not a priori is called "a posteriori" or "empirical". With climate change, we have an a posteriori versus a priori argument being played out in the media.

When investigating beliefs, researchers should be impartial to the (a posteriori attributed) truth or falsehood of those beliefs, and the explanations should be unbiased.

When a belief is said to be known a posteriori, proponents usually mean that sense perception, observation, experiment, or other experiential input is necessary for its rational support. By contrast, …

"A posteriori" is a Latin term that translates to "from the later" or "from what comes after." It is used to describe knowledge or reasoning that is based on empirical evidence, observations, or experiences.

Definition of a posteriori adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

Jan 13, 2026 · What Locke calls "knowledge" they have called "a priori knowledge"; what he calls "opinion" or "belief" they have called "a posteriori" or "empirical knowledge".

What does a posteriori mean? A posteriori is a term applied to knowledge considered to be true based on experience, observation, or existing data. In this sense, a posteriori describes knowledge that …