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[ab-suh-loot, ab-suh-loot] /ˈæb səˌlut, ˌæb səˈlut/
free from imperfection; complete; perfect:
absolute liberty.
not mixed or adulterated; pure:
absolute alcohol.
complete; outright:
an absolute lie; an absolute denial.
free from restriction or limitation; not limited in any way:
absolute command; absolute freedom.
unrestrained or unlimited by a constitution, counterbalancing group, etc., in the exercise of governmental power, especially when arbitrary or despotic:
an absolute monarch.
viewed independently; not comparative or relative; ultimate; intrinsic:
absolute knowledge.
positive; certain:
absolute in opinion; absolute evidence.
  1. relatively independent syntactically. The construction It being Sunday in It being Sunday, the family went to church is an absolute construction.
  2. (of a usually transitive verb) used without an object, as the verb give in The charity asked him to give.
  3. (of an adjective) having its noun understood, not expressed, as poor in The poor are always with us.
  4. characterizing the phonological form of a word or phrase occurring by itself, not influenced by surrounding forms, as not in is not (as opposed to isn't), or will in they will (as opposed to they'll).
    Compare sandhi.
  1. independent of arbitrary standards or of particular properties of substances or systems:
    absolute humidity.
  2. pertaining to a system of units, as the centimeter-gram-second system, based on some primary units, especially units of length, mass, and time.
  3. pertaining to a measurement based on an absolute zero or unit:
    absolute temperature.
The math department marks on an absolute scale.
Compare curve (def 10).
Climatology. noting or pertaining to the highest or lowest value of a meteorological quantity recorded during a given, usually long, period of time:
absolute maximum temperature.
Mathematics. (of an inequality) indicating that the expression is true for all values of the variable, as x 2 + 1 > 0 for all real numbers x; unconditional.
Compare conditional (def 4).
Computers. machine-specific and requiring no translation (opposed to symbolic):
absolute coding; absolute address.
something that is not dependent upon external conditions for existence or for its specific nature, size, etc. (opposed to relative).
the absolute.
  1. something that is free from any restriction or condition.
  2. something that is independent of some or all relations.
  3. something that is perfect or complete.
  4. (in Hegelianism) the world process operating in accordance with the absolute idea.
1350-1400; Middle English < Latin absolūtus free, unrestricted, unconditioned (past participle of absolvere to absolve), equivalent to ab- ab- + solū- loosen + -tus past participle suffix
Related forms
absoluteness, noun
nonabsolute, adjective, noun
nonabsolutely, adverb
nonabsoluteness, noun
quasi-absolute, adjective
quasi-absolutely, adverb
subabsolute, adjective
2. unadulterated, sheer, unqualified, undiluted, uncontaminated. 4. total, unconditional. Absolute, unqualified, utter all mean unmodified. Absolute implies an unquestionable finality: an absolute coward. Unqualified means without reservations or conditions: an unqualified success. Utter expresses totality or entirety: an utter failure. 5. autocratic, dictatorial, totalitarian. 6. categorical. 7. unequivocal, definite, sure.
1. imperfect, flawed. 2. mixed, diluted, contaminated. 4. qualified. 6. relative. Unabridged
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Examples from the web for absolute
  • One explanation that can be excluded, however, is a sincere offer by the generals to cede absolute control.
  • But that perfect state had lacked one thing even for mechanical perfection-absolute permanency.
  • The absolute lack of control that the state has over the prisons.
  • What he had not anticipated was the disaster, complete and absolute, that had now befallen him.
  • They represent an absolute value judgment, made with all the paper's vast authority behind it, about restaurants' relative merits.
  • So his triumph at the polls was mixed and his authority is not absolute.
  • But the notions of absolute mastery and control no longer hold.
  • We recruit absolute newbies every week.
  • Freedom is an absolute.
  • It was no longer considered smart or productive to train by always pushing the body to it's absolute limit.
British Dictionary definitions for absolute


complete; perfect
free from limitations, restrictions, or exceptions; unqualified: an absolute choice
having unlimited authority; despotic: an absolute ruler
undoubted; certain: the absolute truth
not dependent on, conditioned by, or relative to anything else; independent: an absolute term in logic, the absolute value of a quantity in physics
pure; unmixed: absolute alcohol
(of a grammatical construction) syntactically independent of the main clause, as for example the construction Joking apart in the sentence Joking apart, we'd better leave now
(grammar) (of a transitive verb) used without a direct object, as the verb intimidate in the sentence His intentions are good, but his rough manner tends to intimidate
(grammar) (of an adjective) used as a noun, as for instance young and aged in the sentence The young care little for the aged
  1. (postpositive) (of a pressure measurement) not relative to atmospheric pressure: the pressure was 5 bar absolute Compare gauge (sense 18)
  2. denoting absolute or thermodynamic temperature
  1. (of a constant) never changing in value
  2. Also numerical. (of an inequality) unconditional
  3. (of a term) not containing a variable
(law) (of a court order or decree) coming into effect immediately and not liable to be modified; final See decree absolute
(law) (of a title to property, etc) not subject to any encumbrance or condition
something that is absolute
Word Origin
C14: from Latin absolūtus unconditional, freed from, from absolvere. See absolve


noun (sometimes not capital)
  1. the ultimate basis of reality
  2. that which is totally unconditioned, unrestricted, pure, perfect, or complete
(in the philosophy of Hegel) that towards which all things evolve dialectically
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Word Origin and History for absolute

late 14c., "unrestricted; complete, perfect;" also "not relative to something else" (mid-15c.), from Middle French absolut (14c., Old French asolu, Modern French absolu), from Latin absolutus, past participle of absolvere "to set free, make separate" (see absolve).

Most of the current senses also were in the Latin word. Sense evolution was "detached, disengaged," thus "perfect, pure." Meaning "despotic" (1610s) is from notion of "absolute in position." Absolute monarchy is recorded from 1735 (absolute king is recorded from 1610s); scientific absolute magnitude (1902), absolute value (1907) are from early 20c. In metaphysics, the absolute "that which is absolute" is from 1809.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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