clairvoyant

1 of 2

adjective

clair·​voy·​ant kler-ˈvȯi-ənt 

1

: having clairvoyance : able to see beyond the range of ordinary perception

claims to be clairvoyant

2

: of or relating to clairvoyance

clairvoyant powers

the clairvoyant revelations of a medium

clairvoyantly adverb

clairvoyant

2 of 2

noun

: one having the power of clairvoyance

Did you know?

The Meaning of Clairvoyant Is Clear

In French, "clairvoyant" literally means "clear-seeing," mentally or optically. The term made a brief appearance in English in the 17th century, as an adjective suggesting a keen sense of perception, but it did not become firmly established in the language until the 19th century. Today we most often apply this adjective to someone who essentially has ESP, an unexplainable ability to know or perceive things that others cannot. (We also now use "clairvoyant" as a noun for a person who has this ability.) But although "clairvoyant" is nearly always used in the ESP sense these days, the allusion to special powers frequently isn't dead serious. ("Are you clairvoyant? How did you know I was going to wear my flamingo shirt?")

Examples of clairvoyant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

No one built a statue for Poole, though maybe a clairvoyant sculptor should have — because the Thunder, mostly thanks to Dort, were about to do away with performances like these. —Fred Katz, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2025

The arrangement also led to the creation of a new, Dodgers-focused regional sports network, SportsNet LA—a move that looks clairvoyant after the 2023 bankruptcy of RSN operator Diamond Sports Group cast uncertainty on many MLB clubs’ local broadcast futures. —Justin Birnbaum, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024

Noun

Cassandra is a clairvoyant who needs to protect three young women who are destined to develop superpowers who are targeted by a powerful assassin. —Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025

The clairvoyant then watched his team record a three-spot against the Tigers in the opening frame. —Zack Meisel, The Athletic, 29 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

French, from clair clear (from Latin clarus) + voyant, present participle of voir to see, from Latin vidēre — more at wit

First Known Use

Adjective

1844, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1846, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for clairvoyant

• flamboyant
• buoyant

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Kids Definition

clairvoyant

1 of 2 adjective

clair·​voy·​ant kla(ə)r-ˈvȯi-ənt 

kle(ə)r-

: of, relating to, or having clairvoyance

clairvoyant

2 of 2 noun

: a person who has clairvoyance

Medical Definition

clairvoyant

1 of 2 adjective

clair·​voy·​ant -ənt 

: of or relating to clairvoyance

clairvoyant

2 of 2 noun

: one having the power of clairvoyance