transcendental

adjective

tran·​scen·​den·​tal ˌtran(t)-ˌsen-ˈden-tᵊl 

-sən-

1

a

: transcendent sense 1b

b

: supernatural

c

: abstruse, abstract

d

: of or relating to transcendentalism

2

a

: incapable of being the root of an algebraic equation with rational coefficients

π is a transcendental number

b

: being, involving, or representing a function (such as sin x, log x, e^x) that cannot be expressed by a finite number of algebraic operations

transcendental curves

3

in Kantian philosophy

a

: of or relating to experience as determined by the mind's makeup

b

: transcending experience but not human knowledge

4

: transcendent sense 1a

transcendentally

ˌtran(t)-ˌsen-ˈden-tᵊl-ē 

-sən-

adverb

Synonyms

• metaphysical
• otherworldly
• paranormal
• preternatural
• supernatural
• transcendent
• unearthly

Examples of transcendental in a Sentence

the concept of the soul as a transcendental entity that exists entirely apart from the body

in his speeches he manifests a transcendental ability to inspire people from all points on the political spectrum

Recent Examples on the Web

Then, filled with admiration for this person who has turned a simple space into a something transcendental, the patron hires Tóth to oversee construction on a community center in the modest burg of Doylestown, Pennsylvania. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 22 Dec. 2024

While few of us will be able to experience the transcendental taste of the Hibiki 40-year-old, one universal aspect of it is the artistry of the presentation. —Mark Littler, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024

Finding that new way of working between music and film, or of film interacting with music can, when it’s done really, really well, almost be transcendental. —Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Oct. 2024

Everything that characterizes a life lived by moral principles—consistently abiding by them, valuing prosocial ends, refusing to consider costs and benefits, and maintaining that these principles exist for a transcendental reason—seems perfectly engineered to make a person look trustworthy. —Manvir Singh, The New Yorker, 9 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1624, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

transcendental

adjective

tran·​scen·​den·​tal ˌtran(t)s-ˌen-ˈdent-ᵊl 

-ən-

: transcendent sense 2

transcendentally

-ᵊl-ē 

adverb