dialectic

UK: /ˌdaɪəˈlɛktɪk/ US: (dī′ə lek′tik)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

di•a•lec•tic  (dī′ə lek′tik), adj. 

Also, dialectical. 
1. Philosophy of, pertaining to, or of the nature of logical argumentation.
2. Linguistics dialectal.

n. 

3. Philosophy the art or practice of logical discussion as employed in investigating the truth of a theory or opinion.
4. Philosophy logical argumentation.
5. Philosophy Often, dialectics. 
   • logic or any of its branches.
   • any formal system of reasoning or thought.
6. Philosophy See Hegelian dialectic. 
7. Philosophy dialectics, (often used with a sing. v.) the arguments or bases of dialectical materialism, including the elevation of matter over mind and a constantly changing reality with a material basis.
8. Philosophy (in Kantian epistemology) a fallacious metaphysical system arising from the attribution of objective reality to the perceptions by the mind of external objects. Cf. transcendental dialectic. 
9. Philosophy the juxtaposition or interaction of conflicting ideas, forces, etc.

• Greek dialektiké̄ (téchnē) argumentative (art), feminine of dialektikós. See dialect, -ic
• Latin dialectica
• Anglo-French)
• Middle English (1350–1400

di′a•lec′ti•cal•ly, adv. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

dialectic / ˌdaɪəˈlɛktɪk/ noun

1. disputation or debate, esp intended to resolve differences between two views rather than to establish one of them as true
2. the conversational Socratic method of argument
3. the process of reconciliation of contradiction either of beliefs or in historical processes
   See also dialectical materialism

adjective

1. of or relating to logical disputation

Etymology: 17th Century: from Latin dialectica, from Greek dialektikē (tekhnē) (the art) of argument; see dialect

ˌdialecˈtician noun