perception

[ per-sep-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act or faculty of perceiving, or apprehending by means of the senses or of the mind; cognition; understanding.

   Synonyms: awareness, recognition, sense

2. immediate or intuitive recognition or appreciation, as of moral, psychological, or aesthetic qualities; insight; intuition; discernment:

   an artist of rare perception.

3. the result or product of perceiving, as distinguished from the act of perceiving; percept.
4. Psychology. a single unified awareness derived from sensory processes while a stimulus is present.
5. Law. the taking into possession of rents, crops, profits, etc.

perception

/ pəˈsɛpʃən /

noun

1. the act or the effect of perceiving
2. insight or intuition gained by perceiving
3. the ability or capacity to perceive
4. way of perceiving; awareness or consciousness; view

   advertising affects the customer's perception of a product

5. the process by which an organism detects and interprets information from the external world by means of the sensory receptors
6. law the collection, receipt, or taking into possession of rents, crops, etc

Derived Forms

• perˈceptional, adjective

Other Words From

• per·ception·al adjective
• nonper·ception noun
• nonper·ception·al adjective
• reper·ception noun
• self-per·ception noun
• unper·ception·al adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of perception¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English percepcioun, from Old French percepcïon, from Latin perceptiōn-, stem of perceptiō “comprehension,” literally, “a taking in”; percept, -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of perception¹

C15: from Latin perceptiō comprehension; see perceive

Example Sentences

Since “Say Nothing” primarily unfolds through Dolours’ perception, the question of whether McConville is an informant hangs over these nine episodes.

From Salon

Syphard worries that a perception that home hardening is meaningless could result in residents not taking key steps to prepare their homes.

From Los Angeles Times

Despite this, public perception of the site seems overwhelmingly negative—and much of its bad reputation comes from the viral marketing ploys the company uses to reel in new users.

From Slate

As long as this public perception remains and compounds with Stake’s already shady reputation, then the brainwashing might fall flat.

From Slate

But they were unable to break through the widespread perception among shopkeepers and residents that the current crop of city and county leaders did not have forceful answers to the region’s ongoing struggles with homelessness, street crime and lackluster economies that have not yet bounced back from the COVID-19 pandemic.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• approach
• attention
• attitude
• awareness
• concept
• consciousness
• feeling
• image
• impression
• judgment
• knowledge
• notion
• opinion
• recognition
• sense
• taste
• thought
• viewpoint