sixth sense

American  

noun

1. a power of perception beyond the five senses; intuition.

   His sixth sense warned him to be cautious.

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sixth sense British  

noun

1. any supposed sense or means of perception, such as intuition or clairvoyance, other than the five senses of sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell

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sixth sense Idioms  

1. Keen intuition, as in She had a sixth sense that they would find it in the cellar. This term alludes to a sense in addition to the five physical senses of sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. [c. 1800]

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Etymology

Origin of sixth sense

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sixth sense

Researchers also hope to tap into whatever sixth sense animals use to flee tsunamis, earthquakes and eruptions, and develop early-warning systems for vulnerable human settlements.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026

Because interoceptive signals originate deep within the body and are often processed unconsciously, scientists often describe this system as our "hidden sixth sense."

From Science Daily ● Oct. 25, 2025

The Australian labradoodle has a sixth sense for when she’s nervous or upset.

From Seattle Times ● May 4, 2024

That’s more than a detective’s instincts at work; that’s a sixth sense.

From New York Times ● Feb. 18, 2024

His sixth sense told him who the man was.

From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith

Related Words

• instinct