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

A newly described pterosaur found in Germany has provided fresh insights into how these flying reptiles evolved from small, climbing animals to the large, flying ones that dominated prehistoric skies.

From Science Magazine

Stretching 5000km along the Indian Ocean's 90-degree east longitude and nearly matching the length of North America's Rocky Mountains, the ridge offers crucial new insights into the movement of the Earth's tectonic plates.

From Science Daily

Even the most skilled researchers may overlook critical insights from the literature.

From Science Daily

The broad outlines of this story were already known from fossils bones and other evidence—and now the new study adds piles of new insights about the ancient food chains.

From Science Magazine

The method combines brain measurements with genetic analyses, offering deeper insights into the origins and mechanisms of epileptic seizures.

From Science Daily

Related Words

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