ETYM Latin intuitus, p. p. of intueri to look on; in- in, on + tueri: cf. French intuition. Related to Tuition.
1. An impression that something might be the case; SYN. hunch, suspicion.
2. Instinctive knowing (without the use of rational processes).
Rapid, unconscious thought process. In philosophy, intuition is that knowledge of a concept which does not derive directly from the senses. Thus, we may be said to have an intuitive idea of God, beauty, or justice. The concept of intuition is similar to Bertrand Russell's theory of knowledge by acquaintance. In both cases, it is contrasted with empirical knowledge.