ontology

noun

on·​tol·​o·​gy än-ˈtä-lə-jē How to pronounce ontology (audio)
1
: a branch of metaphysics concerned with the nature and relations of being
Ontology deals with abstract entities.
2
: a particular theory about the nature of being or the kinds of things that have existence
ontologist noun

Examples of ontology in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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This time, Sumner elevated his speech to a higher level of abstraction to propound on the historical meaning and ontology of the Civil War. Zaakir Tameez june 11, Literary Hub, 11 June 2025 Building an accurate and thorough ontology is at the heart of this endeavor. Rob Buller, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025 The simple answer is knowledge graphs, ontologies and context engines combined with connectors. Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025 But the very ontology of your album is a slap in the face to the two-minute pop song. Ernesto Lechner, Rolling Stone, 10 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for ontology

Word History

Etymology

New Latin ontologia, from ont- + -logia -logy

First Known Use

1663, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ontology was in 1663

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Cite this Entry

“Ontology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ontology. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.

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