a posteriori

Adjective · Adverb

Open English WordNet

Adjective (2)

  1. involving reasoning from facts or particulars to general principles or from effects to causes“a posteriori demonstration”Opposite a prioriSee also synthetic, inductive
  2. requiring evidence for validation or supportOpposite theoreticSimilar empirical, empiric

Adverb (1)

  1. derived from observed factsOpposite a priori
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Webster's Dictionary (1913)

A′ pos·te′ri·o′ri (…).

Origin: L. a (ab) + posterior latter.

1. Logic Characterizing that kind of reasoning which derives propositions from the observation of facts, or by generalizations from facts arrives at principles and definitions, or infers causes from effects. This is the reverse of a priori reasoning.

2. Philos. Applied to knowledge which is based upon or derived from facts through induction or experiment; inductive or empirical.

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54

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