perception

American  

[per-sep-shuhn] / pərˈsɛp ʃən /

noun

perceptions plural

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.

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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

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

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

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• perceptions
  plural

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”; see percept, -ion

Explanation

Each generation has a different perception — view, idea or understanding — of what is cool. You wouldn't want to walk around in the paisley patterns of the 1960s or the big hair of the 1980s today! Based on the Latin root cipere, "to grasp," perception refers to the way you take in the world through your senses. Have you ever thought a stair was bigger than it really was so your step was too heavy? Your depth perception was off. The noun also means the opinions and beliefs you've formed about something. Your perception of your room after you've cleaned it is different than your parents' — you see clean and they probably don't.

Example Sentences

But I’ve always liked the idea that people have that perception of me, to some extent.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 2, 2026

Any perception that North America’s trade architecture is becoming unstable risks delaying those decisions, with effects that will be felt for decades.

From Barron's • Jun. 30, 2026

Another wondered: "Can he shake off the perception that he is a bit of a lightweight?"

From BBC • Jun. 27, 2026

Despite the volume, however, SpaceX’s 5.35% bonds weren’t rallying but rather weakening as investors demanded more spread, or extra compensation to offset the perception of their growing risks.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 26, 2026

In an instant, Lazlo’s perception shifted and he understood what he’d just done.

From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor

Related Words

• approach
• attention
• attitude
• awareness
• concept
• consciousness
• feeling
• image
• impression
• judgment
• knowledge
• notion
• opinion
• recognition
• sense
• taste
• thought
• viewpoint