ENGLISH
REFERENCE

philosophical

adj.
C1 Advanced Oxford US //ˌfɪɫəˈsɑfɪkəɫ// UK //fˌɪləsˈɒfɪkəl// philo·soph·i·cal

adj. staying calm and patient when things go wrong. You use this to describe someone who accepts a bad situation without getting angry or upset.

adj. characterised by a calm, stoic, or rational attitude toward disappointment or misfortune. Often implies a detached perspective that prioritises long-term understanding over immediate emotional reaction.


SIMPLE

He was quite philosophical about losing his job.

CONTEXTUAL

Despite the heavy rain ruining the outdoor wedding, the couple remained philosophical and moved the party inside.

COMPLEX

Adopting a philosophical stance toward the inevitable setbacks of scientific research allows a team to maintain morale during long periods of trial and error.

Synonyms
Origin

From philosophy + -ical, from Ancient Greek φιλοσοφία (philosophía, “love of knowledge, scientific learning”). Displaced native Old English ūþwitlīċ.

Usage

Commonly used with the preposition 'about' when referring to a specific event or outcome.

© 2026 English Reference