sixth sense

American  

noun

1. a power of perception beyond the five senses; intuition.

   His sixth sense warned him to be cautious.

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sixth sense British  

noun

1. any supposed sense or means of perception, such as intuition or clairvoyance, other than the five senses of sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell

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sixth sense Idioms  

1. Keen intuition, as in She had a sixth sense that they would find it in the cellar. This term alludes to a sense in addition to the five physical senses of sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. [c. 1800]

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Etymology

Origin of sixth sense

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

“I just feel like he has kind of a sixth sense.”

From The Wall Street Journal

That was until a sixth sense drew Lopez back to a neighbor’s home that he already checked.

From Los Angeles Times

Because interoceptive signals originate deep within the body and are often processed unconsciously, scientists often describe this system as our "hidden sixth sense."

From Science Daily

It was when she started accurately rattling off my license and Visa card numbers that the phrase “sixth sense” came to my mind.

From Los Angeles Times

“Well,” Squire said while everyone around him groaned, “I guess I have a sixth sense.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• instinct