clairvoyance: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, literary, or technical (parapsychology). Can be used informally, often skeptically.
Quick answer
What does “clairvoyance” mean?
The supposed ability to perceive events, objects, or people in the future or beyond normal sensory contact.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The supposed ability to perceive events, objects, or people in the future or beyond normal sensory contact.
Exceptional insight or intuitive understanding of present situations.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or grammatical differences. The concept and its linguistic treatment are identical.
Connotations
Primary connotation is of paranormal ability. Can be used metaphorically, often with a tone of scepticism or irony in both varieties.
Frequency
Similar, low-to-mid frequency in both varieties. Perhaps slightly more common in US pop culture discussions of psychic phenomena.
Grammar
How to Use “clairvoyance” in a Sentence
to have clairvoyanceto demonstrate clairvoyanceto be credited with clairvoyanceto claim (noun) through clairvoyanceVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “clairvoyance” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The medium claimed to clairvoy the location of the lost heirloom.
- She was said to clairvoy events before they happened.
American English
- The psychic claimed she could clairvoy the winner of the election.
- He supposedly clairvoyed the accident moments before it occurred.
adverb
British English
- He described the scene clairvoyantly, without having been there.
- She stated clairvoyantly that the deal would fail.
American English
- The witness described, almost clairvoyantly, what happened in the closed room.
- He predicted clairvoyantly which card would be drawn.
adjective
British English
- She had a clairvoyant vision of the disaster.
- The clairvoyant reading was surprisingly accurate.
American English
- He sought a clairvoyant advisor for stock tips.
- Her clairvoyant abilities were tested in the lab.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except metaphorically: 'The CEO's clairvoyance in anticipating market shifts saved the company.'
Academic
Used in psychology, parapsychology, and critical literary analysis of prophetic themes.
Everyday
Used to describe uncanny predictions or, more often, sarcastically: 'I don't have clairvoyance, you should have texted me.'
Technical
A specific term in parapsychology for one of the three main types of ESP (with telepathy and precognition).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “clairvoyance”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “clairvoyance”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “clairvoyance”
- Misspelling: 'clairvoiance', 'clairvoyence'.
- Using it as a direct synonym for 'intelligence' or 'good planning'.
- Incorrect pronunciation: /klɛərˈvɔɪəns/ (misplacing stress).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Telepathy is mind-to-mind communication. Clairvoyance is perceiving distant or hidden objects/events without using the known senses.
Yes, but it's almost always metaphorical or ironic, emphasizing an almost supernatural level of insight or foresight (e.g., 'With the benefit of clairvoyance, I would have invested differently').
Clairvoyance typically refers to perceiving distant or hidden events in the present. Precognition is a specific subtype of clairvoyance focused exclusively on perceiving future events.
No. 'Clairvoyance' is almost exclusively an uncountable (mass) noun. You have 'clairvoyance', not 'a clairvoyance'. The countable form is 'a clairvoyant' (a person).
The supposed ability to perceive events, objects, or people in the future or beyond normal sensory contact.
Clairvoyance is usually formal, literary, or technical (parapsychology). can be used informally, often skeptically. in register.
Clairvoyance: in British English it is pronounced /kleəˈvɔɪ.əns/, and in American English it is pronounced /klerˈvɔɪ.əns/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A case of 20/20 hindsight, not clairvoyance. (Used to critique claims of foresight.)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'CLAIR' (clear in French) + 'VOYANCE' (seeing, from 'voir' - to see). It means 'clear-seeing'.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWING IS SEEING (extended to seeing beyond normal limits). The mind is a receiver for distant/ future signals.
Practice
Quiz
In which field is 'clairvoyance' a formal technical term?