ontology

noun

UK /ɒnˈtɒlədʒi/

US /ɑːnˈtɑːlədʒi/

Ontology is the study of what things exist and how they are grouped.

The philosopher's ontology divided the world into physical objects and abstract ideas.

SYNONYMS

metaphysics theory of being study of existence philosophy of reality

RELATED WORDS

epistemology taxonomy existence being classification

OTHER MEANINGS

2. A formal system that names and organizes the categories and relationships in a field.

The medical ontology lets computers link symptoms to diseases.

3. The set of things a theory or system assumes to exist.

The ontology of the software includes users, orders, and products.

4. A branch of knowledge that deals with the nature of being.

His course on ontology covered questions about time and identity.