intension

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "intension" is correct and usable in written English, but it is often confused with "intention." You can use "intension" in contexts related to philosophy or linguistics, where it refers to the inherent meaning or concept of a term, as opposed to its extension, which refers to the set of things it applies to.
Example: "In semantics, the intension of a word encompasses its meaning and the concepts it evokes."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

Carnap settled on "intension" and "extension".

SEP

The primary intension of (4) is necessary.

SEP

The notion of intension was intended to be an explicatum of Frege's "obscure" notion of sense: two expressions have the same intension if and only if they have the same extension in every possible world or, in Carnap's terminology, in every state description (i.e., in every maximal consistent set of atomic sentences and negations of atomic sentences).

SEP

While Jones holds that S is P asserts an "identity of denotation" in "diversity of intension", S is not P asserts "difference of denotation" in "intensional diversity".

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Although the concept of intension plays an important role in Jones's theory, she recognizes that grasping the intension of a name is neither necessary nor sufficient for grasping its extension.

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By this definition, Peter's concept of significatio covers both the intension and extension of a term, the universal nature of man and the individuals that have this nature in common.

SEP

The intension of (5) is the function that assigns the true to a pair of worlds <u; w> just in case the object that is the last celestial body visible in the morning in u is the second planet in w.[6] This account makes it easy to define the two notions of truth in a world.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

Generalizing the intension-extension distinction to proper names solves a problem that must be faced by anyone espousing the view that predication is, at root, identity.

SEP

Strictly speaking, therefore, it makes no sense to talk about the 1-intension of a particular expression without further ado, since the notion of a 1-intension is defined purely in terms of the formalism.

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Nor does it guarantee that the very same A-intension will be generated for all competent speakers in your linguistic community.

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By itself, this 2D framework offers no guarantee that the hypothetical judgments recorded by an A-intension are produced by a stable reference-fixing criterion.

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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "intension", ensure that the context clearly distinguishes it from "intention". "Intension" refers to the inherent meaning of a term, while "intention" refers to a purpose or plan.

Common error

Avoid using "intension" when you mean "intention". "Intension" is a technical term in philosophy and linguistics; use "intention" for expressing purpose or aim.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "intension" is as a noun. It refers to the inherent meaning or concept associated with a term, distinguishing it from its extension (the set of things to which it applies). As Ludwig AI states, it's often contrasted with "extension" in logic and semantics.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

70%

Encyclopedias

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

News & Media

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "intension" is a grammatically correct noun predominantly used in philosophical and linguistic contexts to denote the inherent meaning or conceptual content of a term. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's crucial to distinguish it from "intention", which refers to purpose. While "intension" may not be frequently used in everyday language, its precise definition and usage in academic and scientific fields make it an important term for understanding semantics and logic. Related terms include "connotation" and ""sense"", offering alternative ways to express similar concepts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

connotation

Highlights the implied or associated meanings of a word.

inherent meaning

Focuses on the intrinsic significance of a term or concept.

semantic content

Highlights the information conveyed by a word or phrase.

conceptual content

Emphasizes the informational or ideational aspect of meaning.

internal meaning

Points to the inherent, non-contextual meaning.

sense

Refers to the meaning a word or phrase conveys.

essential properties

Refers to the core attributes that define a concept.

defining characteristics

Emphasizes the attributes that distinguish a concept.

implicative meaning

Focuses on the meaning that is implied but not explicitly stated.

logical meaning

Highlights the meaning as it relates to logical structures.

FAQs

What is the difference between "intension" and intention?

"Intension" refers to the inherent meaning or set of characteristics that a term implies, often used in philosophy and linguistics. Intention refers to a purpose or plan.

How is "intension" used in philosophy?

In philosophy, "intension" is often contrasted with extension. The intension is the meaning or concept, while the extension is the set of things to which the concept applies. It is often associated with concepts like "sense" and reference.

What can I say instead of "intension"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "connotation", "meaning", or "conceptual content".

How do you use "intension" in a sentence?

Example: "The "intension" of the word 'bachelor' includes being unmarried and male."