insight

American  

[in-sahyt] / ˈɪnˌsaɪt /

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.

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insight British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• insightful adjective

Etymology

Origin of insight

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English; in- ¹ ( def. ) + sight ( def. )

Example Sentences

As antibiotic resistance continues to rise worldwide, insights from ancient microbes are becoming increasingly valuable.

From Science Daily

Understanding how intense physical stress affects red blood cells could provide insight into improving blood storage practices.

From Science Daily

By capturing faint molecular emissions high above the cloud tops, the scientists gained new insight into how ice giant planets move and manage energy in their upper layers.

From Science Daily

As he concludes his eight years, can you give us any insight as to what he’s drawing on?

From The Wall Street Journal

Separately, according to the documents, Andrew wrote to other contacts with information about U.K. government policies, and his own insights on the leadership and operations of British companies that he had gleaned in his role.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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