intuition

American  

[in-too-ish-uhn, -tyoo-] / ˌɪn tuˈɪʃ ən, -tyu- /

noun

1. direct perception of truth, fact, etc., independent of any reasoning process; immediate apprehension.

2. a fact, truth, etc., perceived in this way.

3. a keen and quick insight.

4. the quality or ability of having such direct perception or quick insight.

5. Philosophy.

   1. an immediate cognition of an object not inferred or determined by a previous cognition of the same object.

   2. any object or truth so discerned.

   3. pure, untaught, noninferential knowledge.

6. Linguistics. the ability of the native speaker to make linguistic judgments, as of the grammaticality, ambiguity, equivalence, or nonequivalence of sentences, deriving from the speaker's native-language competence.

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intuition British  

/ ˌɪntjʊˈɪʃən /

noun

1. knowledge or belief obtained neither by reason nor by perception

2. instinctive knowledge or belief

3. a hunch or unjustified belief

4. philosophy immediate knowledge of a proposition or object such as Kant's account of our knowledge of sensible objects

5. the supposed faculty or process by which we obtain any of these

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Other Word Forms

• intuitional adjective
• intuitionally adverb
• intuitionless adjective

Etymology

Origin of intuition

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Late Latin intuitiōn-, stem of intuitiō “contemplation,” equivalent to Latin intuit(us), past participle of intuērī “to gaze at, contemplate” + -iō -ion; in- ², tuition

Explanation

If you know the definition of this noun by quick insight without relying on reason, you know what intuition means! Intuition is a noun whose definition means that someone uses quick understanding to interpret but without using reasoning or perception, a snap judgment. The definition of the word comes from the Latin roots in- meaning "at" or "on" and tueri meaning "look at, watch over." A relative of intuition is tuition, and even though we don't use this particular meaning anymore, it used to refer to having guardianship or custody. If we use our intuition it means that we don't always make the correct interpretation, and in fact, the Australian writer Christina Stead wrote, "Intuition is not infallible; it only seems to be the truth."

Example Sentences

"My intuition is this will have a lasting impact… because of the safety perception you have in your mind," says Johannes Thomas, chief executive of the travel specialist Trivago.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

What it does is it brings your intuition in line with your intellect.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2026

"That's something you wouldn't expect because people's intuition goes the opposite way. And in fact, that intuition is often wrong."

From Science Daily • Feb. 14, 2026

When the smoke cleared, Carrick's intuition paid off as he brought Cunha into the starting line-up to replace the injured Patrick Dorgu after the Brazilian scored the winner at Arsenal last weekend.

From Barron's • Feb. 1, 2026

Then it was terrible; my intuition was right!

From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker

Related Words

• hunch
• instinct