a priori
a priori — adjective
1. accepted, assumed, or present before you look at real experience or proof.
accepted, assumed, or present before you look at real experience or proof.
Talia's teacher called fairness an a priori idea in class.
a priori + idea in formal discussion
Liam questioned the a priori belief that rich children work less hard.
Nia warned against any a priori judgment of the quiet boy.
For Hari, duty was not an a priori truth at all.
- presupposed
neutral and broad; does not always carry the philosophical force of a priori
- preconceived
often negative; stresses a judgment formed too early
- innate
often describes natural qualities in people rather than formal knowledge claims
文法句型
a priori + noun (idea, belief, truth, judgment)
be a priori
用法筆記
Common in philosophy and formal writing. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense focuses on what is accepted before experience, not on the reasoning process itself.
常見錯誤
2. worked out from general rules or known facts, not from direct observation or exp
worked out from general rules or known facts, not from direct observation or experiment.
Using a priori reasoning, Dario predicted the ice would melt indoors.
a priori reasoning = from known principles, not observation
The lawyer offered an a priori argument from cause to effect.
a priori + argument
Aoi reached an a priori conclusion from the broken brake cable.
In class, the physics teacher showed an a priori method of proof.
- deductive
closest in meaning; broader and less tied to philosophical language
- theoretical
broader; may mean based on ideas rather than practice without a strict reasoning chain
- inferential
more general; covers drawing conclusions without specifying the direction
文法句型
a priori + reasoning
a priori + argument
a priori + conclusion
a priori + method
用法筆記
Often used in logic, philosophy, and formal argument. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense names a way of reasoning from general principles to a result.
常見錯誤
a priori — adverb
1. before looking at the facts or evidence, especially when judging something too q
before looking at the facts or evidence, especially when judging something too quickly.
The editor refused the article a priori, after reading only the title.
refuse + object + a priori
Nia would not dismiss the rumor a priori; she checked the photos first.
dismiss + object + a priori
The board should not rule out solar power a priori.
The coach told us not to reject the plan a priori.
- presumptively
formal and close in meaning, but often stresses assumption rather than judgment
- automatically
broader and less formal; lacks the idea of judging before evidence
文法句型
reject + object + a priori
rule out + object + a priori
dismiss + object + a priori
用法筆記
Usually follows the thing being judged: reject a claim a priori, rule something out a priori. It does not simply mean in advance; it implies a judgment made before checking evidence.