Meaning & use

intension

noun·Advanced

In logic and philosophy, the set of properties that define a concept's meaning, as opposed to the things it refers to.

See it in a sentence

The intension of 'bachelor' includes being unmarried and male, regardless of which men it applies to.

Philosophers distinguish a word's intension, its inherent meaning, from its extension, the actual objects it names.

A note on using this word

Do not confuse intension with 'intention'; despite the similar spelling and pronunciation, intension is a technical term in logic and semantics.

Words with a similar meaning

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Words with an opposite meaning

extension

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