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

There, the clairvoyant siblings do battle with the Grabber from beyond the grave, and reckon with the truth behind their mother’s death. —Jack Dunn, Variety, 20 Oct. 2025

In Completedworks’ spring 2026 presentation, the Texan actor and model took the stage as Miss Edie Grey, a television clairvoyant and mystic extraordinaire that can trace the history of objects with her magical touch. —Hikmat Mohammed, Footwear News, 20 Sep. 2025

Noun

Hall’s clairvoyant was not your typical fortune teller. —Hikmat Mohammed, Footwear News, 20 Sep. 2025

Norway’s princess, Märtha Louise, claims to be a clairvoyant who can communicate with angels. —Barry Levitt, Time, 16 Sep. 2025

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