intuition

American  

[in-too-ish-uhn, -tyoo-] / ˌɪn tuˈɪʃ ən, -tju- /

noun

• intuitions
  plural

1. direct perception of truth, fact, etc., independent of any reasoning process; immediate apprehension.

2. a fact, truth, etc., perceived in this way.

3. a keen and quick insight.

4. the quality or ability of having such direct perception or quick insight.

5. Philosophy.

   1. an immediate cognition of an object not inferred or determined by a previous cognition of the same object.

   2. any object or truth so discerned.

   3. pure, untaught, noninferential knowledge.

6. Linguistics. the ability of the native speaker to make linguistic judgments, as of the grammaticality, ambiguity, equivalence, or nonequivalence of sentences, deriving from the speaker's native-language competence.

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intuition British  

/ ˌɪntjʊˈɪʃən /

noun

1. knowledge or belief obtained neither by reason nor by perception

2. instinctive knowledge or belief

3. a hunch or unjustified belief

4. philosophy immediate knowledge of a proposition or object such as Kant's account of our knowledge of sensible objects

5. the supposed faculty or process by which we obtain any of these

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• intuitional
  adjective
• intuitionless
  adjective
• intuitionally
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• intuitions
  plural

Etymology

Origin of intuition

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Late Latin intuitiōn-, stem of intuitiō “contemplation,” equivalent to Latin intuit(us), past participle of intuērī “to gaze at, contemplate” + -iō -ion; see in- ², tuition

Explanation

If you know the definition of this noun by quick insight without relying on reason, you know what intuition means! Intuition is a noun whose definition means that someone uses quick understanding to interpret but without using reasoning or perception, a snap judgment. The definition of the word comes from the Latin roots in- meaning "at" or "on" and tueri meaning "look at, watch over." A relative of intuition is tuition, and even though we don't use this particular meaning anymore, it used to refer to having guardianship or custody. If we use our intuition it means that we don't always make the correct interpretation, and in fact, the Australian writer Christina Stead wrote, "Intuition is not infallible; it only seems to be the truth."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

intuition intuitions

"But no one knows for sure what will happen or not. You just rely on your intuition and survival instinct," the 34-year-old said.

From Barron's ● Aug. 16, 2026

At a moment when technology promises ever-greater efficiency, “The Bear” makes a quieter if tenacious case for the value of people: their improvisation, intuition and stubborn belief that something worth doing is worth doing well.

From Salon ● Jun. 28, 2026

Greenspan’s command of statistics gave him an intuition about where the economy was going and where pressures were building up.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 22, 2026

As the son and brother of actors, O’Herlihy had more than a little intuition for drama.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 18, 2026

I forget Muhammad is home, and, while he’s not too sharp in the intuition department, he wanders into the living room for some reason to stand and watch with nary a sound.

From "Saints and Misfits" by S.K. Ali

"I think I understand more about why that wasn't done -- obviously gratefully -- but that is an area where my intuitions were just off."

From Barron's ● May 27, 2026

We trust our intuitions when we should rely on rational calculation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 15, 2025

Unfortunately, marketing, preexisting beliefs, and "intuitions" – as reasonable as they may seem – have potential to lead us astray.

From Salon ● Aug. 1, 2024

Artists work by intuitions, and I hope you’ll forgive my putting this one very simply: Flat painting might be a way to talk about what we have, and what we’re missing.

From New York Times ● Apr. 6, 2023

It is in the abrupt, unaccountable aggregation of random notions, intuitions, known in science as good ideas, that the high points are made.

From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas

Related Words

• hunch
• instinct