suggestion

[suh g-jes-chuh n, suh-]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR suggestion ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the act of suggesting.

the state of being suggested.

something suggested, as a piece of advice: We made the suggestion that she resign.

a slight trace: He speaks with a suggestion of a foreign accent.

the calling up in the mind of one idea by another by virtue of some association or of some natural connection between the ideas.

the idea thus called up.

Psychology.

the process of inducing a thought, sensation, or action in a receptive person without using persuasion and without giving rise to reflection in the recipient.
the thought, sensation, or action induced in this way.

Origin of suggestion

1300–50; Middle English suggestio(u)n incitement to evil < Medieval Latin suggestiōn- (stem of suggestiō), Latin: act of supplying an answer or hint, equivalent to suggest(us) (see suggest) + -iōn- -ion

Related formscoun·ter·sug·ges·tion, nounnon·sug·ges·tion, nounpre·sug·ges·tion, nounself-sug·ges·tion, noun

Synonym study

1, 3. See advice.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for suggestion

resolution, instruction, tip, idea, invitation, motion, charge, proposition, recommendation, opinion, proposal, approach, thought, suspicion, indication, notion, brainchild, injunction, thesis, pitch

Examples from the Web for suggestion

Contemporary Examples of suggestion

That suggestion turns absurd when you consider the long list of corrupt Democrat politicians Lynch has sent to prison.
For Next AG, Obama Picks a Quiet Fighter With a Heavy Punch
Michael Daly
November 8, 2014
At the suggestion of founder Maneesh Goyal, the company went with a Pee-wee Herman theme.
The Childish Genius of Pee-wee’s Playhouse
Keith Phipps
October 23, 2014
When asked by a public radio why Cuomo sounded as if he was encouraging Clinton to run, he smiled and dismissed the suggestion.
If Clinton Runs for President, Cuomo’s on Board
David Freedlander
October 23, 2014
But Hagel just as quickly shut down the suggestion, saying he was disinclined to review the policy formally.
Yes to LGB, No to T: The Pentagon Still Has a Transgender Ban
Tim Mak
October 21, 2014
These witnesses should be of the same gender as the employee, to avoid any suggestion of a “sexual subtext”.
How To Fire Your Maid, By A Russian Oligarch
Tom Sykes
October 1, 2014

Historical Examples of suggestion

The elder Milbrey, too, had met her at his son's suggestion.
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson
At Percival's suggestion of a walk, Miss Milbrey was delighted.
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson
There is one spot in Harrogate that has a suggestion of the early days of the town.
Yorkshire Painted And Described
Gordon Home
The main point is that I hoped she might have a suggestion to make about Hester.
Ester Ried Yet Speaking
Isabella Alden
The young man caught at the suggestion, and wanted to help carry it out.
Ester Ried Yet Speaking
Isabella Alden

British Dictionary definitions for suggestion

suggestion

noun

something that is suggested

a hint or indicationa suggestion of the odour of violets

psychol the process whereby the mere presentation of an idea to a receptive individual leads to the acceptance of that ideaSee also autosuggestion

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

Word Origin and History for suggestion

mid-14c., "a prompting to evil," from Anglo-French and Old French suggestioun, from Latin suggestionem (nominative suggestio) "an addition, intimation, suggestion," from suggestus, past participle of suggerere "suggest, supply, bring up," from sub "up" (see sub-) + gerere "bring, carry" (see gest). Sense evolution in Latin is from "heap up, build" to "bring forward an idea." Meaning "proposal" appeared by late 14c., but original English notion of "evil prompting" is preserved in suggestive (1630s, though the indecent aspect did not emerge until 1888). Hypnotism sense is from 1887.

suggestion in Medicine

suggestion

[səg-jĕs′chən, sə-jĕs′-]

n.

Implanting of an idea in the mind of another by a word or act so as to influence conduct or physical condition.