instinctiveness
|in-stinct-ive-ness|
/ɪnˈstɪŋktɪvnɪs/
acting by natural impulse
Etymology
'instinctiveness' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'instinctus', where 'instinctus' meant 'a impulse or urge'.
'instinctiveness' developed from the adjective 'instinctive' (from Late Latin/Old French forms based on Latin 'instinctus') with the noun-forming suffix '-ness' added in English to denote a state or quality.
Initially, the root 'instinctus' referred to an urging or impulse; over time English formed 'instinct' and 'instinctive' to mean innate tendencies, and 'instinctiveness' came to mean the quality or degree of being instinctive.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the quality or state of being instinctive; acting or responding naturally without deliberate thought.
The instinctiveness of his reaction surprised everyone in the room.
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Noun 2
the degree to which a behavior or response is governed by innate impulses rather than learned reasoning.
Researchers measured the instinctiveness of the birds' nesting behavior across different environments.
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Last updated: 2025/09/13 06:11