/ ˌtiːliˈɒlədʒi; NAmE -ˈɑːlə-/ noun
[ U , sing. ] ( philosophy ) the theory that events and developments are meant to achieve a purpose and happen because of that
► teleo·logic·al / ˌtiːliəˈlɒdʒɪkl; NAmE -ˈlɑːdʒ-/ adjective
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 18th cent. (denoting the branch of philosophy that deals with ends or final causes): from modern Latin teleologia , from Greek telos end + -logia (see -logy ).