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.

Nearby words

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

Examples from the Web for 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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST

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|DAILY BEAST
Arnold forced himself to accept the suggestion with some appearance of pleasure.
The Lighted Way|E. Phillips Oppenheim
Do not let the lieutenant take too many chances, is my suggestion.
Grace Harlowe's Overland Riders Among the Kentucky Mountaineers|Jessie Graham Flower
Lancken stiffened perceptibly at this suggestion and refused, frankly, saying that he could not do anything of the sort.
A Journal From Our Legation in Belgium|Hugh Gibson
This suggestion of a divine fire under the control of Moses opens an interesting speculation.
The Emancipation of Massachusetts|Brooks Adams
There was a faulty side, however, to the Masterson suggestion.
The Sunset Trail|Alfred Henry Lewis

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

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.

Medicine definitions for suggestion

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.

suggestion

noun

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Origin of suggestion

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for suggestion

suggestion

noun

suggestion

suggestion

n.