nonempirical

adjective

non·​em·​pir·​i·​cal ˌnän-im-ˈpir-i-kəl How to pronounce nonempirical (audio)
-em-
Synonyms of nonempiricalnext
: not empirical
nonempirical evidence/beliefs
The … model has been criticized for having a relatively unscientific, nonempirical basis …—Nancy Melucci

Examples of nonempirical in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Each story represents a fresh challenge of how to say things in a nonempirical way. — Hilton Als, The New Yorker, 24 June 2018 The enforcement of such nonempirical standards as taste and judgment implies a kind of cultural and aesthetic hierarchy that Silicon Valley’s ruling class embraces ruthlessly but will never admit to countenancing. — Kevin D. Williamson, National Review, 20 Oct. 2019

Word History

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nonempirical was in 1838

Rhymes for nonempirical

See All Rhymes for nonempirical

Browse Nearby Words

nonemphatic
nonempirical
nonemployee
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nonempirical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nonempirical. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on nonempirical

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for nonempirical

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
banana-mirrored
Contradictory Words Quiz Pick out which word means one thing…and the opp...
See All