introspection

American  

[in-truh-spek-shuhn] / ˌɪn trəˈspɛk ʃən /

noun

introspections plural

1. observation or examination of one's own mental and emotional state, mental processes, etc.; the act of looking within oneself.

   Synonyms:

   soul-searching, self-examination

2. the tendency or disposition to do this.

3. sympathetic introspection.

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introspection British  

/ ˌɪntrəˈspɛkʃən /

noun

1. the examination of one's own thoughts, impressions, and feelings, esp for long periods

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• introspectionist
  noun
• introspectiveness
  noun
• introspectional
  adjective
• introspectively
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• introspections
  plural

Etymology

Origin of introspection

First recorded in 1670–80; from Latin intrōspect(us) “looked within” (past participle of intrōspicere “to look within,” from intrō- intro- + -spicere, combining form of specere “to see, observe, look”) + -iō -ion

Explanation

Introspection means "to look inside," and describes the act of thinking about your own actions or inner thoughts. When you examine what you do, say, think or feel and how it affects your life and the lives of others, that's introspection. It's easy to piece together the meaning of the noun introspection. Consider that intro means "within," while spec is from the Latin for "look." So you can tell that the word means the act of "looking within." Introspection isn't "thinking about yourself" in the sense of calculating your own interests; it's more like searching inside in order to understand yourself — what some people mock as "navel gazing." Nineteenth-century philosopher William Godwin once said, “The philosophy of the wisest man that ever existed is mainly derived from the act of introspection.”

Example Sentences

The rest of the album alternates between chaos and control, introspection and criticism, grungy beats and hazy surrealism.

From Salon • Jun. 5, 2026

Abdulmohsen showed "no remorse, regret or introspection whatsoever", Boettchner told the court.

From Barron's • Jun. 4, 2026

It begs a series of difficult questions and another long summer of introspection and rebuilding at Ibrox.

From BBC • May 11, 2026

“It’s a little bit complicated when they put an image in your head and now you’re stuck with it,” he sings in “Paint by Numbers,” which pretty handily demonstrates how lightweight the introspection is here.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 9, 2026

Oppenheimer’s point was more nuanced than it might have seemed on the surface; he was calling for introspection among scientists that had been lacking—and perhaps unnecessary—before the power of fission was unleashed.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

Related Words

• contemplation
• meditation
• reflection
• scrutiny
• self-examination
• soul-searching