existential

Existential is an adjective meaning “relating to existence,” but what does that even mean? What does anything mean? What is our purpose in the universe? These are existential questions.

Existential is often used in relation to existentialism, a philosophical movement that suggests that existence (life, the universe, and everything) has no meaning except for the meaning that individuals create for themselves. Existential is also often used to describe a scenario in which someone or something’s very existence or being is threatened or in question, especially in phrases like existential threat. 

Example: Though unlikely, an asteroid strike would be an existential threat to the planet.

Existential is the adjective form of existence. Existential, existence, and exist all ultimately derive from the Latin verb ex(s)istere, meaning “to exist, appear, emerge.” The first records of existential in English come from the 1600s.

By the 1800s and 1900s, the use of existential had gained importance in philosophy of existentialism. Philosophers and writers like Sören Kierkegaard, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Jean-Paul Sartre, Martin Heidegger, and Albert Camus tangled with questions of existence. People who subscribe to this philosophy are called existentialists. They often come to the conclusion that life has no meaning by itself, and that since humans have the freedom to make their own choices, they have the responsibility to do so and to give meaning to life. Of course, that’s a big responsibility, and existentialism often deals with the existential anxiety and fear that come with it, especially in the face of mortality—that fact that one day our existence will end.

Relatedly, but less philosophically and more practically, existential is applied to situations that threaten to wipe something out, such as a species, as in Poaching poses an existential threat to elephants. It is also used in cases where someone has big questions about who they are, as in After getting fired from my dream job, I’m having an existential crisis.

What are some other forms related to existential?

• existentially (adverb)
• existentialism (noun)
• existentialist (noun)

What are some words that share a root or word element with existential? 

• exist
• existence

What are some words that often get used in discussing existential?

• threat 
• angst 
• crisis
• question
• issue
• meaning

Existential is frequently used in the context of the philosophy of existentialism. In everyday speech, it’s generally applied to situations in which something’s existence is at stake or when reflecting on deep human problems. It is often used to modify words like angst, threat, crisis, and question.

I say this as someone who respects your work, but this is too important to “get wrong”. Global warming is an existential threat and treating it as a partisan blood sport or game is dooming our chances of survival. Also, it’s verifiable fact that the cost of NOT acting is greater.

— Emma Dawson (@DawsonEJ) February 21, 2020

I voted on Monday in hopes of curbing existential anxiety. It didn't quite work. 😬

— Caitlin 🏳️‍🌈🖖 (@walshcaitlin) February 28, 2020

“So… what do you look for in a partner?”

“Existential sadness.”

— Moses Sumney (@MosesSumney) September 30, 2019

Is existential used correctly in the following sentence?

This philosophy course is intended to tackle a lot of existential questions, like what it means to be human.