Meaning & use
existential
Relating to human existence, especially concerns about meaning, purpose, freedom, or mortality.
See it in a sentence
Losing his job triggered an existential crisis about what truly mattered to him.
The philosopher's existential questions about free will challenged the students deeply.
A note on using this word
In casual use, existential often just means threatening the very existence of something, as in an existential threat, beyond its philosophical sense.
Words with a similar meaning
This term is best learned through its definition and examples.
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Another way to use it
2. adjective
Posing a threat to the continued existence of something.
Climate change poses an existential threat to low-lying island nations.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “existential”, then compare your use with the examples above.