instinctive

C1 Topic:Emotions & Feelings

US /ɪnˈstɪŋktɪv/ See IPA manual

adj Freq #26882

Meanings

1

adj
Done automatically without thinking, from a natural feeling.

Pulling your hand away from fire is an instinctive reaction.
2

adj
Relating to or caused by instinct rather than learning.

A bird's instinctive urge to migrate appears each autumn.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · done automatically without... natural

Word family

Derived forms instinctivelyinstinctivenessinstinctivitynoninstinctiveuninstinctive

Etymology

From instinct + -ive.

Topics

Emotions & Feelings Word Formation & Derivatives

# instinctive

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** ɪnˈstɪŋktɪv
**Frequency rank:** 26882

## Meanings
1. Done automatically without thinking, from a natural feeling.
2. Relating to or caused by instinct rather than learning.

## Examples
- Pulling your hand away from fire is an instinctive reaction.
- A bird's instinctive urge to migrate appears each autumn.

## Derived Forms
- instinctively
- instinctiveness
- instinctivity
- noninstinctive
- uninstinctive

## Etymology
From instinct + -ive.

## AI Etymology
Instinctive is from instinct + -ive. The analysis is mainly morphological: the modern adjectival form is built from the named base and affix. In present-day use, it can mean done automatically without thinking, from a natural feeling, or relating to or caused by instinct rather than learning. Derived formations include instinctively, instinctiveness, instinctivity, noninstinctive, uninstinctive.

## Topics
- Emotions & Feelings
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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instinctive

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