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

Find insight on crude futures, Suncor Energy, TC Energy and more in the latest Market Talks covering Energy and Utilities.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But Trier suggests, somewhat mystically, that Gustav has an insight into his daughter’s gloom that making the movie will help them understand.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

You needn’t be Canadian to appreciate his insights, though you might have to travel north to buy some of the wines he recommends.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The insight was that conservatives must never force voters to elect radical parties to achieve legitimate policy goals.

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Their insights revealed that the 2024 results weren’t just about immigration or ideology; they were about leadership, values and, above all, economics.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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