Quasiphysical
Quasiphysical is an adjective used to describe phenomena, models, or systems that bear resemblance to physical processes but are not fully described by established physical theory. The term is informal and its precise meaning varies by field. In science and philosophy, "quasiphysical" may denote effective or computational representations that reproduce empirical regularities of physics without asserting that the underlying substrate is physically real, or that the model operates under complete physical law. It can refer to simulations, analog models, or phenomenological theories that capture essential features of a system while omitting microscopic details.
In physics-inspired modeling, quasiphysical models emphasize qualitative behavior—such as conservation-like patterns, symmetries, or dynamical regimes—without claiming
Critics caution that "quasiphysical" can be vague and risk conflating metaphor with mechanism. Its use tends
See also: quasi-, phenomenology, effective theory, analog model, simulation.