creaturely

Creaturely is an English adjective meaning pertaining to or resembling a creature, and it is often used to denote qualities associated with finite, dependent beings. The related noun creatureliness denotes the state or quality of being a creature. The word derives from the noun creature, via the suffix -ly; its etymology traces back through Old French to Latin creatura, entering English via Middle English.

In philosophical and theological contexts, creaturely is used to stress finitude, dependence on a creator, embodiment, and vulnerability. Discussions may contrast the creaturely order with divine transcendence, or examine how limits of power and knowledge bind moral responsibility and trust. The term is uncommon in everyday speech but appears in scholarly debates on metaphysics, ethics, and the anthropology of human nature.

In literature and critical theory, creaturely is employed to frame analyses of human and nonhuman life, highlighting limits, affect, and the phenomenology of embodiment. It can signal a stance that foregrounds vulnerability, contingency, or the non-absolute character of existence. Related terms include creatureliness and creaturely existence, while in theological contexts its opposite often centers on invulnerability or omnipotence.