perceptions

Meanings

1. 1nounplural

   The ways in which people understand or think about something, based on their impressions.

   Grammar: Plural of perception; often followed by of: perceptions of risk.

   Patterns

   • perceptions of something
   • perceptions about something

   Public perceptions of the police varied across the city.

   The ad campaign changed customer perceptions of the brand.

   Teachers' perceptions of students can affect how they grade.

2. 2nounplural

   The abilities to notice things through the senses, such as sight, hearing or touch.

   Grammar: Plural of perception in the sense of sensory awareness.

   Patterns

   • perceptions of something

   After the injury, his perceptions of balance were different.

   Bats have sharp perceptions of sound.

   Drugs may distort a person's perceptions of time.

3. 3nounpluralformal

   Quick, insightful understandings of what is true or important.

   Grammar: Plural; often described as sharp or keen.

   Her perceptions about office politics proved correct.

   The novel is full of sharp perceptions about family life.

   Good managers have keen perceptions of their team's needs.

Word forms

Common combinations

public perceptions

Public perceptions of the economy are gloomy.

change perceptions

The documentary changed perceptions about homelessness.

shape perceptions

Media coverage can shape perceptions of safety.

false perceptions

Advertising can create false perceptions about health.

challenge perceptions

The exhibit challenges perceptions of old age.

Synonyms and how they differ

impressions

Are first, often quick feelings about something, whereas perceptions are usually more settled.

views

Are opinions someone holds and can be argued for, but perceptions are based on how things appear.

awareness

Is the state of knowing something, not the picture someone forms.

insights

Are deep understandings, while perceptions may be accurate or mistaken.

Opposites

Word family

perceive verb

to notice or understand something

perceptive adjective

quick to notice or understand things

perceptual adjective

relating to the senses

perceptible adjective

able to be noticed

misperception noun

a wrong understanding

Commonly confused: perceptions or conceptions?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “perceptions”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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