insight

[ in-sahyt ]

noun

1. an instance of apprehending the true nature of a thing, especially through intuitive understanding:

   an insight into 18th-century life.

2. penetrating mental vision or discernment; faculty of seeing into inner character or underlying truth.

   Synonyms: grasp, understanding, intuition, apprehension, perception

3. Psychology.
   1. an understanding of relationships that sheds light on or helps solve a problem.
   2. (in psychotherapy) the recognition of sources of emotional difficulty.
   3. an understanding of the motivational forces behind one's actions, thoughts, or behavior; self-knowledge.

insight

/ ˈɪnˌsaɪt /

noun

1. the ability to perceive clearly or deeply; penetration
2. a penetrating and often sudden understanding, as of a complex situation or problem
3. psychol
   1. the capacity for understanding one's own or another's mental processes
   2. the immediate understanding of the significance of an event or action
4. psychiatry the ability to understand one's own problems, sometimes used to distinguish between psychotic and neurotic disorders

Derived Forms

• ˈinˌsightful, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of insight¹

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English; in- ¹( def ) + sight ( def )

Example Sentences

Suspending Ms Robinson from the nursing register for a year, the panel said while she had "provided evidence of developing insight, remorse and reflection", there remained "insufficient evidence of full remediation".

From BBC

"He was Pep's analyst for four or five years, day to day, so the insight of one of the real incredible minds," says Bellamy.

From BBC

Sign up for our Future Earth newsletter to get exclusive insight on the latest climate and environment news from the BBC's Climate Editor Justin Rowlatt, delivered to your inbox every week.

From BBC

Golden’s reality-TV background and matchmaking insight — she said she’s personally responsible for three successful marriages to date — are behind her new comedy show and divorced singles mixer debuting Saturday night at Westside Comedy Theater in Santa Monica.

From Los Angeles Times

As hostile as the discourse is at times, though, its themes can provide some insight into what kinds of candidates might be appealing to Democrats in future election cycles.

From Slate

Related Words

• acumen
• intuition
• judgment
• observation
• understanding
• vision
• wisdom