Quasi: meaning, definitions and examples

Etymology

• 'Quasi' comes from the Latin word 'quasi', meaning 'as if' or 'as though'.
• The term was first used in English in the late 17th century, primarily in legal contexts.
• Its usage has expanded into the realm of philosophy and science to describe concepts that resemble but do not entirely fit a category.

Law

• In legal terminology, 'quasi' is often used to describe something that is not fully recognized but has some similarities to it, such as quasi-contracts which arise in situations where no formal agreement exists.
• Courts may treat certain entities as 'quasi-governmental', meaning they perform governmental functions but do not have full governmental power.

Philosophy

• In philosophy, 'quasi' is used to explore the nature of existence and the essence of reality by examining things that are partial or approximate in nature.
• The term is often used in discussions concerning concepts such as 'quasi-empirical', which suggests ideas that can be observed but lack definitive proof.

Science

• In physics, 'quasi-particles' refer to emergent phenomena that arise in systems of many particles, like how sound can be considered a wave in the air.
• Quasi-stellar objects, or quasars, are astronomical entities that resemble stars but are actually extremely bright galaxies powered by black holes.

Culture

• Quasi has been used in popular culture, including in film and literature, to describe characters or phenomena that are not fully realized, such as a quasi-villain whose motives are complex.
• The term also appears in the name of 'quasi-experimental designs' in research, which are studies that resemble experiments but lack random assignment of subjects.

At #6,405 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.

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