Instinct: meaning, definitions and examples

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instinct

 

[ หˆษชnstษชล‹kt ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

animal behavior

An instinct is a natural or inherent impulse or behavior pattern that is typically unlearned and characteristic of a species. It is often driven by survival or reproductive needs.

Synonyms

innate behavior, intuition, urge

Examples of usage

  • Mother birds have the instinct to protect their young from predators.
  • Salmon have the instinct to swim upstream to spawn.
  • Wolves have a strong hunting instinct.
Context #2 | Noun

human behavior

Instinct can also refer to a natural or intuitive way of acting or thinking, often without conscious reasoning. It is sometimes described as a gut feeling or sixth sense.

Synonyms

hunch, impulse, intuition

Examples of usage

  • She had an instinct that something was wrong.
  • His instinct told him to trust her.
  • Following her instinct, she turned left instead of right.

Translations

Translations of the word "instinct" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น instinto

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคธเคนเคœ เคชเฅเคฐเคตเฅƒเคคเฅเคคเคฟ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Instinkt

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ naluri

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ั–ะฝัั‚ะธะฝะบั‚

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ instynkt

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๆœฌ่ƒฝ

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท instinct

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ instinto

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท iรงgรผdรผ

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๋ณธ๋Šฅ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุบุฑูŠุฒุฉ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ instinkt

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ inลกtinkt

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๆœฌ่ƒฝ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ instinkt

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ eรฐlishvรถt

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะธะฝัั‚ะธะฝะบั‚

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ˜แƒœแƒกแƒขแƒ˜แƒœแƒฅแƒขแƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ instinkt

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ instinto

Word origin

The word 'instinct' comes from the Latin word 'instinctus', meaning 'impulse' or 'instigation'. It has been used in English since the early 15th century to describe innate behaviors in animals. Over time, the term has evolved to also encompass intuitive behaviors in humans.

See also: instinctive, instinctively, instinctually.

Word Frequency Rank

At #6,440 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.