instinct

¹

[ in-stingkt ]

noun

1. an inborn pattern of activity or tendency to action common to a given biological species.
2. a natural or innate impulse, inclination, or tendency.
3. a natural aptitude or gift:

   an instinct for making money.

   Synonyms: talent, faculty, knack, genius

4. natural intuitive power.

instinct

²

[ in-stingkt ]

adjective

1. filled or infused with some animating principle (usually followed by with ):

   instinct with life.

2. Obsolete. animated by some inner force.

instinct

noun

1. the innate capacity of an animal to respond to a given stimulus in a relatively fixed way
2. inborn intuitive power
3. a natural and apparently innate aptitude

adjective

1. rare.
   postpositiveoften foll bywith
   1. animated or impelled (by)
   2. imbued or infused (with)

instinct

/ ĭn′stĭngkt′ /

1. An inherited tendency of an organism to behave in a certain way, usually in reaction to its environment and for the purpose of fulfilling a specific need. The development and performance of instinctive behavior does not depend upon the specific details of an individual's learning experiences. Instead, instinctive behavior develops in the same way for all individuals of the same species or of the same sex of a species. For example, birds will build the form of nest typical of their species although they may never have seen such a nest being built before. Some butterfly species undertake long migrations to wintering grounds that they have never seen. Behavior in animals often reflects the influence of a combination of instinct and learning. The basic song pattern of many bird species is inherited, but it is often refined by learning from other members of the species. Dogs that naturally seek to gather animals such as sheep or cattle into a group are said to have a herding instinct, but the effective use of this instinct by the dog also requires learning on the dog's part. Instinct, as opposed to reflex , is usually used of inherited behavior patterns that are more complex or sometimes involve a degree of interaction with learning processes.

instinct

1. Behavior that is not learned but passed between generations by heredity .

Word History and Origins

Origin of instinct¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin instinctus “prompting, instigation, enthusiasm,” noun use of past participle of insting(uere) “to excite, incite, rouse,” from in- in- ² + -stinguere, presumably, “to prick, mark by pricking” ( distinct, instigate )

Origin of instinct²

First recorded in 1530–40; from Latin instinctus “excited, inspired,” past participle of instinguere “to excite, incite, rouse”; instinct ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of instinct¹

C15: from Latin instinctus roused, from instinguere to incite; compare instigate

Example Sentences

It could have made Tristan question everything he was doing and doubt all of his instincts.

From Fortune

We definitely knew it was about the human instinct for companionship and love, and the human instinct for a social contract — believing and trusting people.

From Vox

I think it’s got a lot of great knowledge on how to keep yourself safe and trust your instincts.

From Ozy

You just have a gut instinct and a lot of experience to be able to try and guide it in that way.

From Search Engine Land

Perhaps you have an instinct that analyzing a certain data set would yield interesting results.

From Search Engine Watch

“I have a survivalist instinct,” said Ben, a 28-year-old New Yorker.

From The Daily Beast

Certainly my instinct is to identify with the police, no matter the circumstance.

From The Daily Beast

In a flash he deflects the shot, with the speed of instinct, right past the goalkeeper.

From The Daily Beast

The human desire for knowledge and exploration is an absolute good, and we need to follow that instinct.

From The Daily Beast

Perhaps his conservative political instinct will ultimately keep Murdoch from plunging fully into the yes camp.

From The Daily Beast

It seems to be a true instinct which comes before education and makes education possible.

From Project Gutenberg

Imitation of the ways of their elders doubtless plays a part here, but it is aided by an instinct for adornment.

From Project Gutenberg

Long before reason found the answer, instinct—swift, merciless interpreter—told him plainly.

From Project Gutenberg

From the movement behind him Marius guessed almost by instinct that Garnache had drawn back for a lunge.

From Project Gutenberg

He believes, he has an instinct, that here is the heel of the German Colossus, otherwise immune to our arrows.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• aptitude
• feeling
• hunch
• impulse
• inclination
• intuition
• knack
• savvy
• sense
• sentiment
• talent
• tendency