intuitionism

noun

in·​tu·​i·​tion·​ism ˌin-tü-ˈi-shə-ˌni-zəm 

-tyü-

1

a

: a doctrine that objects of perception are intuitively known to be real

b

: a doctrine that there are basic truths intuitively known

2

: a doctrine that right or wrong or fundamental principles about what is right and wrong can be intuited

3

: a philosophical thesis that human beings have a direct intuitive understanding of mathematics and that rejects the principle that every mathematical statement must be true or false

intuitionist

ˌin-tü-ˈi-sh(ə-)nist 

-tyü-

adjective or noun

Examples of intuitionism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

By grounding mathematics in what can be constructed, intuitionism has far-reaching consequences for the practice of math, and for determining which statements can be deemed true. —Quanta Magazine, 7 Apr. 2020

Word History

First Known Use

1847, in the meaning defined at sense 1a