Meaning & use
Simpliciter
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A Latin term used in English legal and philosophical writing meaning "simply" or "absolutely," without qualification or reference to particular circumstances.
See it in a sentence
The court considered whether the act was unlawful simpliciter, regardless of intent.
Philosophers distinguish between calling something good simpliciter and calling it good in a specific respect.
A note on using this word
This Latin adverb survives almost exclusively in specialized legal and philosophical writing, contrasted with the phrase "secundum quid," meaning "in a certain respect."
Words with a similar meaning
absolutelyunconditionally
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
secundum quid
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