intuition

noun

in·​tu·​i·​tion ˌin-tü-ˈi-shən 

-tyü-

1

a

: the power or faculty of attaining to direct knowledge or cognition without evident rational thought and inference

b

: immediate apprehension or cognition

c

: knowledge or conviction gained by intuition

2

: quick and ready insight

intuitional

ˌin-tü-ˈi-sh(ə-)nəl 

-tyü-

adjective

Examples of intuition in a Sentence

Intuition was telling her that something was very wrong.

“How did you know I would drop by?” “Oh, I don't know. It must have been intuition.”

Recent Examples on the Web

Discretion, sensitivity, and intuition are part of the service. —Nia Bowers, USA Today, 28 Oct. 2025

Let your intuition and compassion work through you, but always remember to stay grounded in the process. —Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025

This will free us to apply our own experience, intuition, and imagination —valuable, uniquely human qualities that AI can’t replicate. —Bipul Sinha, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025

Your intuition is one of your strongest defenses against scams. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English intuycyon, from Late Latin intuition-, intuitio act of contemplating, from Latin intuēri to look at, contemplate, from in- + tuēri to look at

First Known Use

circa 1600, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for intuition

• abolition
• acquisition
• admonition
• ammunition
• apparition
• apposition
• coalition
• competition
• composition
• definition
• deglutition
• demolition

Kids Definition

intuition

noun

in·​tu·​ition

ˌin-t(y)u̇-ˈish-ən

1

: the power of knowing immediately and without conscious reasoning

2

: something known or understood at once

intuitional

-ˈish-nəl

-ən-ᵊl

adjective

Medical Definition

intuition

noun

in·​tu·​ition ˌin-t(y)u̇-ˈish-ən 

1

: immediate apprehension or cognition without reasoning or inferring

2

: knowledge or conviction gained by intuition

3

: the power or faculty of gaining direct knowledge or cognition without evident rational thought and inference

intuit

in-ˈt(y)ü-ət 

transitive verb

intuitional

ˌin-t(y)u̇-ˈish-nəl, -ən-ᵊl 

adjective

intuitive

in-ˈt(y)ü-ət-iv 

adjective

intuitively adverb