teleology

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
teleology /ˌtɛlɪˈɒlədʒi, ˌtiːl-/

▶noun (pl. teleologies)

• 1 Philosophy the explanation of phenomena by the purpose they serve rather than by postulated causes.

• 2 Theology the doctrine of design and purpose in the material world.

– derivatives
teleologic adjective,
teleological adjective,
teleologically adverb,
teleologism noun,
teleologist noun.

– origin C18: from mod. L. teleologia, from Gk telos ‘end’ + -logia (see -logy).