acontextual

adjective

acon·​tex·​tu·​al ˌā-kän-ˈteks-chə-wəl How to pronounce acontextual (audio)
-kən-,
-chəl,
-chü-əl
: not occurring in, relating to, determined by, or conforming to a particular context
… identifies the contrasting acontextual self, in which the individual stands apart from family relationships and pursues her or his individual needs and desires with maximum independence.Howard P. Chudacoff, The Age of the Bachelor, 1999
acontextually adverb
It also follows that where a patentee has used a word or phrase which, acontextually, might have a particular meaning (narrow or wide) it does not necessarily have the meaning in context. Cameron McKenna, Mondaq Business Briefing, 29 Apr. 2005

Word History

Etymology

a- entry 2 + contextual

First Known Use

1976, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of acontextual was in 1976

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Dictionary Entries Near acontextual

Cite this Entry

“Acontextual.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acontextual. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!