nous

American  

[noos, nous] / 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”

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

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

From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026

England, used to bulging crowds, were simply too physical, too skilful, and had far too much nous.

From BBC ● Apr. 18, 2026

The athletes are required to employ all their technical nous to transition efficiently, stripping off reusable 'skins' that give their skis grip for climbing so they can freely ski down two descents.

From Barron's ● Feb. 21, 2026

She needed all her nous in the 500m.

From BBC ● Feb. 18, 2026

“Um, nous étions…” Abby smiles up at Madame Blanc, and then waits for her to move out of earshot.

From "Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda" by Becky Albertalli