intension

American  

[in-ten-shuhn] / ɪnˈtɛn ʃən /

noun

• intensions
  plural

1. intensification; increase in degree.

2. intensity; high degree.

3. relative intensity; degree.

4. exertion of the mind; determination.

5. Logic. (of a term) the set of attributes belonging to all and only those things to which the given term is correctly applied; connotation; comprehension.

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intension British  

/ ɪnˈtɛnʃən /

noun

1. logic

   1. the set of characteristics or properties by which the referent or referents of a given word are determined: thus, the intension of marsupial is the set containing the characteristics suckling its young and having a pouch Compare extension

   2. Compare subjective intension

2. a rare word for intensity determination

3. a rare word for intensification See intensification

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• intensional
  adjective
• intensionally
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• intensions
  plural

Etymology

Origin of intension

First recorded in 1595–1605, intension is from the Latin word intēnsiōn- (stem of intēnsiō ). See intense, -ion

Explanation

Intension sounds like "intention," and it's just one letter off, but it means something else. It's a term used in logic and linguistics to refer to the concept that a word evokes. Intension is a common misspelling of intention, but the two words shouldn't be confused. If you're talking about an aim or purpose, then you want intention. Intension with an "s" should only be used in technical discussions about the meaning of language, or semantics. The intension of the word "dog" is the whole concept of dog-ness that the word brings to mind.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

intension intensions

Despite winning the award, Wang told the outlet he had no intension of quitting his job, adding that he planned to work until he turns 60.

From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026

"Whether HSF5 shares similar functions with other Heat Shock Factors, or exhibits entirely different functions poses an intriguing question, and addressing this question was the original intension our study." explains Professor Ishiguro.

From Science Daily ● May 1, 2024

It could be that the composer’s intension was to stir us to action rather than still us into easy apathy.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 6, 2022

It's just sort of a normal white bread haircut, but it was still done with intension, as McGregor revealed:

From Salon ● Mar. 28, 2022

It will simplify matters to bear in mind that the intension of a term is the same thing as its meaning.

From Deductive Logic by St. George William Joseph Stock

This is a type of online fraud called "cloaking", whereby malicious adverts are able to get past a social media firm's review stage because the fraudsters have hidden their intensions.

From BBC ● Apr. 24, 2024

But even those with the best of intensions are bound to slip up occasionally, especially when they’re up against extenuating circumstances.

From Slate ● Jul. 1, 2020

Hall intervened and opened the floor to discussion, much of it critical of the department and mistrustful of the committee’s intensions.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 9, 2019

Senators had difficulty keeping up with the information in a rapidly shifting week when leaders floated intensions to vote on both bills.

From Washington Post ● Jul. 20, 2017

Stodger, with the best of intensions and the least possible capacity for carrying them out, knelt helplessly beside her, under the delusion that he was rendering first aid.

From The Paternoster Ruby by Charles Edmonds Walk