nous

American  

[noos, naus] / nus, naʊs /

noun

1. Greek Philosophy. mind or intellect.

2. Philosophy. (inNeoplatonism ) the first and purest emanation of the One, regarded as the self-contemplating order of the universe.

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nous British  

/ naʊs /

noun

1. metaphysics mind or reason, esp when regarded as the principle governing all things

2. slang common sense; intelligence

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Etymology

Origin of nous

First recorded in 1670–80; from Greek noûs, contracted variant of nóos “mind”

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Explanation

In philosophy, nous is the mind's ability to clearly understand what is true. You might think of nous as reason or intellect. The exact definition of nous varies, depending on whether you're talking to a philosopher, historian, or religious thinker. In Christianity, the nous is the mind, as distinguished from the soul. You can also think of this as the distinction between thinking and feeling. Classic philosophy defines nous as the part of a person's mind that allows them to think rationally and understand. During the 18th century, nous was briefly popular as college slang for "wit or cleverness."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

nous

Much earlier on Friday, England's women had lacked the power and nous to overcome Samoa, losing 24-6 in a match that decided who went through to the semi-finals.

From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026

Manager Matthias Jaissle could still use another midfielder with some top-flight nous, though, after Newcastle sold Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali, and the club are progressing with a move for Manchester City's Nico Gonzalez.

From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026

He adds crucial nous after Villa's plans were thrown a curveball following Amadou Onana's serious knee injury.

From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026

Paired with the injury to James, England needed an extra dimension and Bellingham's tactical nous and versatility came in clutch.

From BBC ● Jun. 28, 2026

“Cette semaine, j’ai une petite surprise pour vous: nous allons regarder un film,” she says, taking a DVD off her desk and popping it in the player.

From "Love, Hate & Other Filters" by Samira Ahmed

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