1. not based on observation or experience; theoretical rather than practical
Usage: academic; philosophy

Examples

• The philosopher’s nonempirical approach relied purely on logical reasoning.
• Nonempirical knowledge includes mathematical truths and logical principles.
• Critics argued that the theory was too nonempirical to be scientifically useful.
• The debate centered on whether ethics should be empirical or nonempirical.
• Pure mathematics is often considered a nonempirical discipline.
• The researcher preferred nonempirical methods over field observations.