intuition
in-too-ISH-uhn
/ˌɪn.tʃuːˈɪʃ.ən/
Immediate insight or understanding without relying on explicit step-by-step reasoning or sensory observation.
Direct intellectual or cognitive apprehension that feels immediately obvious.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'intueri', meaning to gaze upon or look into closely. Philosophical intuition is like looking directly at truth with the mind's eye.
Word relationships
- insight: Insight often arrives after subconscious mental processing, while intuition feels like immediate mental vision.
- analysis: Analysis requires step-by-step logical decomposition rather than immediate direct grasp.
Commonly confused with
- instinct: Instinct is a biological drive, whereas intuition is an immediate cognitive realization.
Word family
- intuitive (adjective): Based on or known through direct intuition.
- intuitively (adverb): By means of intuitive insight.
Collocations
- direct intuition
- rational intuition
- rely on intuition
Example sentences
- "Rationalist philosophers considered mathematical truths to be grasped by intellectual intuition." Epistemology
Memory hook
INTUITION is looking INTU (into) truth without intermediate steps. Mind's direct sight.
When not to use
Do not treat as a random wild guess; intuition implies immediate cognitive clarity.
Fun facts
- Spinoza considered 'scientia intuitiva' (intuitive knowledge) to be the highest possible tier of human wisdom.
Related words
Explore more words
intuitive, epiphany, impulsive, perceptive, subconscious, visceral
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