Instinct: meaning, definitions and examples
๐พ
instinct
[ หษชnstษชลkt ]
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.
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
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:
๐ต๐น instinto
๐ฎ๐ณ เคธเคนเค เคชเฅเคฐเคตเฅเคคเฅเคคเคฟ
๐ฉ๐ช Instinkt
๐ฎ๐ฉ naluri
๐บ๐ฆ ัะฝััะธะฝะบั
๐ต๐ฑ instynkt
๐ฏ๐ต ๆฌ่ฝ
๐ซ๐ท instinct
๐ช๐ธ instinto
๐น๐ท iรงgรผdรผ
๐ฐ๐ท ๋ณธ๋ฅ
๐ธ๐ฆ ุบุฑูุฒุฉ
๐จ๐ฟ instinkt
๐ธ๐ฐ inลกtinkt
๐จ๐ณ ๆฌ่ฝ
๐ธ๐ฎ instinkt
๐ฎ๐ธ eรฐlishvรถt
๐ฐ๐ฟ ะธะฝััะธะฝะบั
๐ฌ๐ช แแแกแขแแแฅแขแ
๐ฆ๐ฟ instinkt
๐ฒ๐ฝ instinto
Etymology
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.