a posteriori Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective involving reasoning from facts or particulars to general principles or from effects to causes
    • a posteriori demonstration
  2. adjective satellite requiring evidence for validation or support
  3. adverb derived from observed facts

WordNet

A` pos*te`ri*o"ri
Etymology
L. a (ab) + posterior latter.
Definitions
  1. (Logic) Characterizing that kind of reasoning which derives propositions from the observation of facts, or by generalizations from facts arrives at principles and definitions, or infers causes from effects. This is the reverse of a priori reasoning.
  2. (Philos.) Applied to knowledge which is based upon or derived from facts through induction or experiment; inductive or empirical.

Webster 1913