noumenon

[ noo-muh-non ]
/ ˈnu məˌnɒn /

noun, plural nou·me·na [noo-muh-nuh] /ˈnu mə nə/.

the object, itself inaccessible to experience, to which a phenomenon is referred for the basis or cause of its sense content.
a thing in itself, as distinguished from a phenomenon or thing as it appears.
Kantianism. something that can be the object only of a purely intellectual, nonsensuous intuition.

Origin of noumenon

1790–1800; < Greek nooúmenon a thing being perceived, noun use of neuter of present participle passive of noeîn to perceive; akin to nous

Example sentences from the Web for noumenon

British Dictionary definitions for noumenon

noumenon
/ (ˈnuːmɪnən, ˈnaʊ-) /

noun plural -na (-nə)

(in the philosophy of Kant) a thing as it is in itself, not perceived or interpreted, incapable of being known, but only inferred from the nature of experience Compare phenomenon (def. 3) See also thing-in-itself
the object of a purely intellectual intuition

Derived forms of noumenon

Word Origin for noumenon

C18: via German from Greek: thing being thought of, from noein to think, perceive; related to nous mind