The term analytic refers to something that is carefully examined or analyzed in order to understand its nature, characteristics and behavior. It can also refer to a methodical approach used for solving problems by breaking them down into their component parts, studying each part individually, and then combining the knowledge gained from these individual studies to form a comprehensive understanding of the whole problem. In philosophy, analytic refers to a style of reasoning that breaks down complex ideas or statements into smaller components in order to better understand their meaning and logic.