a posteriori
/eɪ pɒˌstɛrɪˈɔːrʌɪ
/ /ɑː pɒˌstɛrɪˈɔːriː/adjective
1Relating to or denoting reasoning or knowledge which proceeds from observations or experiences to the deduction of probable causes.This volume presents the most up-to-date information available on a posteriori error estimation for finite element approximation in mechanics and mathematics....
- This paper proposes a novel probabilistic variational method with deterministic annealing for the maximum a posteriori estimation of complex stochastic systems.
- Historically the a priori / a posteriori distinction has been closely associated with that between the innate and the learned.
1.1(In general use) of the nature of an afterthought or subsequent rationalization.The "author" is an a posteriori rationalization of the text....
- That's an a posteriori rationalization for "looking nice," if ever there was one, but I'll take the designer at his word.
- These sentences are called synthetic and they express an a posteriori thought.
adverb
1In a way based on reasoning from known facts or past events rather than by making assumptions or predictions.This lays them under a necessity of speaking a posteriori, if I may be allowed the phrase.
1.1 [sentence adverb] With hindsight; as an afterthought.The first thesis states that value generation is now primarily the result of social cooperation; the second that there is no longer a direct link between production and valorization, and that the latter is only realized a posteriori in the financial economy.
Origin
Early 17th century: Latin, 'from what comes after'.