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

Other Word Forms

• insightful adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of insight¹

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

Example Sentences

The remarkable variety of experiences, both positive and stressful, adds up to what she describes as "an unprecedented insight into children's inner world".

From BBC

The larger context of the birthday book offers more insight.

From Salon

Character.ai told Reuters it welcomed the chance to share insight with regulators, while Snap said it supported "thoughtful development" of AI that balances innovation with safety.

From BBC

Meanwhile, a partnership with Roundhay School would offer students the chance to get involved in the live music industry and event management, providing skills and insight into opportunities in the creative industries, they added.

From BBC

Mr Streeting says these insights have "fed into" government health plans to "speed up cancer diagnoses and deliver cutting edge treatments to the NHS front line quicker".

From BBC

Related Words

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