nonconscious
|non-con-scious|
🇺🇸
/ˌnɑnˈkɑnʃəs/
🇬🇧
/ˌnɒnˈkɒnʃəs/
not aware / outside awareness
Etymology
'nonconscious' originates from Modern English as a compound of the prefix 'non-' and the adjective 'conscious'. The prefix 'non-' ultimately comes from Latin 'non' meaning 'not', and 'conscious' comes from Latin 'conscius' (from 'con-' + 'scire' meaning 'to know').
'conscious' came into English via Late Latin 'conscius' and Old French influences, passing through Middle English as 'conscious' or similar forms; the modern compound 'nonconscious' formed in English by adding the productive negative prefix 'non-' to this adjective.
Initially, the elements expressed 'not' + 'knowing' (i.e., 'not aware'); over time the compound has come to be used in psychology and neuroscience to refer specifically to mental processes that occur outside conscious awareness.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the aspects of mind or mental processes that occur outside of conscious awareness (i.e., nonconscious processes).
Researchers study the nonconscious to understand how implicit biases form.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Adjective 1
not within conscious awareness; occurring or operating without conscious perception or deliberate intention.
Many emotional responses are nonconscious and occur without deliberate thought.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/24 23:43