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Synonyms

perception

American  
[per-sep-shuhn] / pərˈsɛp ʃən /

noun

  1. the act or faculty of perceiving, or apprehending by means of the senses or of the mind; cognition; understanding.

    Synonyms:
    recognition, sense, awareness
  2. immediate or intuitive recognition or appreciation, as of moral, psychological, or aesthetic qualities; insight; intuition; discernment.

    an artist of rare perception.

  3. the result or product of perceiving, as distinguished from the act of perceiving; percept.

  4. Psychology. a single unified awareness derived from sensory processes while a stimulus is present.

  5. Law. the taking into possession of rents, crops, profits, etc.


perception British  
/ pəˈsɛpʃən /

noun

  1. the act or the effect of perceiving

  2. insight or intuition gained by perceiving

  3. the ability or capacity to perceive

  4. way of perceiving; awareness or consciousness; view

    advertising affects the customer's perception of a product

  5. the process by which an organism detects and interprets information from the external world by means of the sensory receptors

  6. law the collection, receipt, or taking into possession of rents, crops, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • nonperception noun
  • nonperceptional adjective
  • perceptional adjective
  • reperception noun
  • self-perception noun
  • unperceptional adjective

Etymology

Origin of perception

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English percepcioun, from Old French percepcïon, from Latin perceptiōn-, stem of perceptiō “comprehension,” literally, “a taking in”; percept, -ion

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"It was quite clear that the whole regime needed looking at, that there was a perception that the police were being drawn into matters that they shouldn't have been," he added.

From BBC

But the ultimate factor is a mind that reconceives something so brilliantly that the result creates a higher level of perception and experience, surprising and inspiring us by its unexpected art.

From The Wall Street Journal

The findings were published in the scientific journal Acta Physiologica and show that cold perception varies depending on where it occurs in the body.

From Science Daily

Analysts have said the company has ceded significant market share in recent quarters and that it is struggling with its price perception among consumers.

From The Wall Street Journal

The ride was set up, and given its title, in an effort to change perceptions around stage four cancer.

From BBC