noumenon
[ noo-muh-non ]
/ ˈnu məˌnɒn /
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noun, plural nou·me·na [noo-muh-nuh]. /ˈnu mə nə/.
the object, itself inaccessible to experience, to which a phenomenon is referred for the basis or cause of its sense content.
a thing in itself, as distinguished from a phenomenon or thing as it appears.
Kantianism. something that can be the object only of a purely intellectual, nonsensuous intuition.
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Origin of noumenon
1790–1800; <Greek nooúmenon a thing being perceived, noun use of neuter of present participle passive of noeîn to perceive; akin to nous
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use noumenon in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for noumenon
noumenon
/ (ˈnuːmɪnən, ˈnaʊ-) /
noun plural -na (-nə)
(in the philosophy of Kant) a thing as it is in itself, not perceived or interpreted, incapable of being known, but only inferred from the nature of experienceCompare phenomenon (def. 3) See also thing-in-itself
the object of a purely intellectual intuition
Derived forms of noumenon
Word Origin for noumenon
C18: via German from Greek: thing being thought of, from noein to think, perceive; related to nous mind
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