bolmaslik

Bolmaslik is a term in Uzbek that denotes non-existence or the state of not being. In everyday language it is used to indicate that something does not exist in a given place or time, or that a condition or phenomenon is absent.

Etymology: The word is formed from bol- meaning “to be” and the suffix maslik indicating negation or absence, roughly equating to “non-being” or “nonexistence” in English.

Philosophical usage: In philosophy and logic, bolmaslik appears in discussions of ontology—the study of what exists. It helps describe the contrast between what is and what is not, and is relevant to debates on negation, possibility, and reference. Some analytic discussions distinguish between things that do not exist currently and things whose existence is logically impossible, while others address how language refers to non-existent entities.

Cultural and linguistic usage: In Uzbek literature and religious or secular discourse, bolmaslik is used to denote absence or negation of attributes, conditions, or events. The term can appear in debates about the nature of reality, epistemology, and theology, where questions about existence and non-existence are central.

See also: existence, nonexistence, ontology, negation, Uzbek language.