introspection

American  

[in-truh-spek-shuhn] / ˌɪn trəˈspɛk ʃən /

noun

1. observation or examination of one's own mental and emotional state, mental processes, etc.; the act of looking within oneself.

   Synonyms:

   soul-searching, self-examination

2. the tendency or disposition to do this.

3. sympathetic introspection.

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introspection British  

/ ˌɪntrəˈspɛkʃən /

noun

1. the examination of one's own thoughts, impressions, and feelings, esp for long periods

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Other Word Forms

• introspectional adjective
• introspectionist noun
• introspectively adverb
• introspectiveness noun

Etymology

Origin of introspection

First recorded in 1670–80; from Latin intrōspect(us) “looked within” (past participle of intrōspicere “to look within,” from intrō- intro- + -spicere, combining form of specere “to see, observe, look”) + -iō -ion

Explanation

Introspection means "to look inside," and describes the act of thinking about your own actions or inner thoughts. When you examine what you do, say, think or feel and how it affects your life and the lives of others, that's introspection. It's easy to piece together the meaning of the noun introspection. Consider that intro means "within," while spec is from the Latin for "look." So you can tell that the word means the act of "looking within." Introspection isn't "thinking about yourself" in the sense of calculating your own interests; it's more like searching inside in order to understand yourself — what some people mock as "navel gazing." Nineteenth-century philosopher William Godwin once said, “The philosophy of the wisest man that ever existed is mainly derived from the act of introspection.”

Example Sentences

Parks' breathy vocals and soul-searching introspection fit snugly within the musical world she's created.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

“It’s a little bit complicated when they put an image in your head and now you’re stuck with it,” he sings in “Paint by Numbers,” which pretty handily demonstrates how lightweight the introspection is here.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 9, 2026

For all his introspection, Dunk wrongfully justifies his own survival as a transaction — a king-to-be traded for a commoner.

From Salon • Feb. 25, 2026

Ms. Smith, by contrast, was less about shock and volume and more concerned with merging introspection, darkness and poetry.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 25, 2025

Raw and emotional, disinclined toward introspection, he had the kind of gregarious, magnetic personality that instantly won him friends for life; hundreds of individuals—including some he’d met just once or twice—considered him a bosom buddy.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer

Related Words

• contemplation
• meditation
• reflection
• scrutiny
• self-examination
• soul-searching