intuition

[in-too-ish-uhn, -tyoo-]

noun

1. direct perception of truth, fact, etc., independent of any reasoning process; immediate apprehension.

2. a fact, truth, etc., perceived in this way.

3. a keen and quick insight.

4. the quality or ability of having such direct perception or quick insight.

5. Philosophy.

   1. an immediate cognition of an object not inferred or determined by a previous cognition of the same object.

   2. any object or truth so discerned.

   3. pure, untaught, noninferential knowledge.

6. Linguistics.,  the ability of the native speaker to make linguistic judgments, as of the grammaticality, ambiguity, equivalence, or nonequivalence of sentences, deriving from the speaker's native-language competence.

intuition

/ ˌɪntjʊˈɪʃən /

noun

1. knowledge or belief obtained neither by reason nor by perception

2. instinctive knowledge or belief

3. a hunch or unjustified belief

4. philosophy immediate knowledge of a proposition or object such as Kant's account of our knowledge of sensible objects

5. the supposed faculty or process by which we obtain any of these

Other Word Forms

• intuitional adjective
• intuitionally adverb
• intuitionless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of intuition¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Late Latin intuitiōn-, stem of intuitiō “contemplation,” equivalent to Latin intuit(us), past participle of intuērī “to gaze at, contemplate” + -iō -ion; in- ², tuition

Word History and Origins

Origin of intuition¹

C15: from Late Latin intuitiō a contemplation, from Latin intuērī to gaze upon, from tuērī to look at

Example Sentences

"What I've learned is to listen honestly to yourself, to your intuition and what your body is telling you."

From BBC

Walker, finishing his sister’s point, explains, “There’s an intuition held in reserve, a secret the architect keeps until the building is built.”

From Los Angeles Times

"It was his intuition, I didn't say anything to him," said Inter boss Simone Inzaghi with a smile after the match.

From BBC

The behind-the-scenes story with CBS involved a truckload of intuition and a bit of insubordination, resulting in one of the great moments in televised sports.

From Los Angeles Times

The average American voter gropes and searches their way through political questions, seeks direction from sources they trust, and is guided by emotion and intuition.

From Salon

Related Words

• hunch 
• instinct