sixth sense: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
MediumInformal to semi-formal
Quick answer
What does “sixth sense” mean?
An intuitive faculty or extrasensory perception that allows someone to perceive or know something without using the ordinary five senses.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An intuitive faculty or extrasensory perception that allows someone to perceive or know something without using the ordinary five senses.
A highly developed or reliable intuition about people, situations, or events; sometimes used metaphorically to describe expertise or deep familiarity in a field that gives someone an almost instinctive understanding.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage; the concept is equally recognized in both varieties.
Connotations
Slightly more likely to be used in British English in relation to psychic phenomena; in American English, it is often used metaphorically for business or social intuition.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both varieties, with a notable spike after the 1999 film title.
Grammar
How to Use “sixth sense” in a Sentence
[Subject] + have/possess + a sixth sense + for + [noun phrase][Subject] + use/rely on + [possessive] + sixth senseIt + be + [possessive] + sixth sense + that + [clause]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sixth sense” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She seemed to sixth-sense the danger before anyone else.
- (Note: highly informal and rare as a verb)
American English
- He totally sixth-sensed that the deal was going to fall through. (Informal)
adjective
British English
- She has an almost sixth-sense awareness of her children's needs.
- His sixth-sense perception saved the company.
American English
- The coach made a sixth-sense call to change the play.
- Her sixth-sense insights are invaluable.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used to describe a leader's intuitive grasp of market trends or employee morale.
Academic
Rare in formal writing; appears in psychology, parapsychology, or literary analysis.
Everyday
Commonly used to explain a correct guess or an unexplained feeling about a person or situation.
Technical
Not a technical term; used informally in user experience (UX) design to describe intuitive interfaces.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sixth sense”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sixth sense”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sixth sense”
- Incorrect article: *'have sixth sense' (must be 'have a sixth sense').
- Pluralisation: *'sixth senses' is very rare and non-idiomatic.
- Spelling: confusing 'sense' with 'scents' (smells).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is not recognised as a real, measurable sensory modality in mainstream science. It is considered a psychological phenomenon (intuition) or a paranormal claim.
Yes, absolutely. It is frequently used metaphorically to praise someone's deep, instinctive understanding or expertise, e.g., 'a chef with a sixth sense for flavour pairing'.
The concept is ancient, but the specific phrase 'sixth sense' in English dates to the early 18th century, formalising the idea of an inner sense beyond the traditional five.
It is most commonly written without a hyphen ('sixth sense'), though hyphenated forms ('sixth-sense') are sometimes seen when used attributively (before a noun), e.g., 'sixth-sense intuition'.
An intuitive faculty or extrasensory perception that allows someone to perceive or know something without using the ordinary five senses.
Sixth sense is usually informal to semi-formal in register.
Sixth sense: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsɪksθ ˈsens/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsɪksθ ˈsens/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A nose for (something)”
- “A feeling in one's bones”
- “To have eyes in the back of one's head (for situational awareness)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the five senses (sight, hearing, etc.) as the first five floors of a building. Your 'sixth sense' is the secret, top-floor penthouse where your intuition lives.
Conceptual Metaphor
INTUITION IS AN EXTRA SENSE / KNOWLEDGE IS PERCEPTION
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the LEAST likely meaning of 'sixth sense' in modern usage?