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

Find insight on subordinated bonds, Belfius Bank, Visa and more in the latest Market Talks covering financial services.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

These findings provide new insight into age-related inflammation and help explain why something as simple as a cough can sometimes lead to hospitalization in older individuals.

From Science Daily • Apr. 3, 2026

Find insight on Formula One, Tesla, Daimler Truck and more in the latest Market Talks covering the auto and transport sector.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

Lonar Lake in India, created about 50,000 years ago, still contains water and offers insight into how such systems evolve.

From Science Daily • Apr. 3, 2026

“Just because one does not see something, that does not mean it isn’t there,” the lady replied, in an accidental moment of insight.

From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood

Related Words

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