instinct

The word “instinct” means a behavior or urge that comes naturally, without being learned. In plain terms, a built-in, automatic reaction — either biological (like animal instinct) or a quick unexplained hunch.

“Instinct” is pronounced IHN-stihngkt (/ˈɪn.stɪŋkt/ in IPA).

Here is “instinct” used in a sentence: “Migration is driven by instinct in many bird species.”

“Instinct” is a noun.

The word “instinct” comes from Latin. From Latin instinctus, "impulse, instigation" — from instinguere, "to incite or spur on.".

“Instinct” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

“Instinct” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a behavior or urge that comes naturally, without being learned.

Instinct refers to a behavior or urge that comes naturally without being learned, often shared across a species, while intuition is more personal, describing a gut feeling or immediate understanding based on accumulated experience rather than innate biology. Both can describe knowing something without conscious reasoning, but instinct leans biological and intuition leans experiential.

Common phrases include "maternal instinct," "survival instinct," and "trust your instinct," all referring to natural urges or gut reactions that guide behavior without deliberate thought.

Not necessarily. Instinct describes an unlearned urge or gut reaction, but it is not a guarantee of correctness, since instincts can sometimes mislead, especially in unfamiliar or complex situations.