introspection
Americannoun
-
observation or examination of one's own mental and emotional state, mental processes, etc.; the act of looking within oneself.
- Synonyms:
- soul-searching, self-examination
-
the tendency or disposition to do this.
noun
-
the examination of one's own thoughts, impressions, and feelings, esp for long periods
Other Word Forms
- introspectional adjective
- introspectionist noun
- introspectively adverb
- introspectiveness noun
Etymology
Origin of introspection
First recorded in 1670–80; from Latin intrōspect(us) “looked within” (past participle of intrōspicere “to look within,” from intrō- intro- + -spicere, combining form of specere “to see, observe, look”) + -iō -ion
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
For all his introspection, Dunk wrongfully justifies his own survival as a transaction — a king-to-be traded for a commoner.
From Salon • Feb. 25, 2026
Raducanu has just suffered one of the most demoralising Grand Slam defeats of her career, mitigated by an off-season beset by a foot injury, with seemingly more introspection about where she is heading.
From BBC • Jan. 23, 2026
Stripped back for the most part to just voice and piano, it’s an earnest work of introspection from a guy who knows how to make tenderness feel like strength.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 22, 2025
It replaces conspicuous display with introspection, trading “look what I own” for “look how I feel.”
From Barron's • Nov. 1, 2025
Once the fighting started, Van Riper didn’t want introspection.
From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.