Well-read · Science & thinking
Heuristic: meaning, pronunciation and examples
Heuristic noun. A rule of thumb or mental shortcut that helps you decide quickly, if not always perfectly.
How to say it
hyoo-RIS-tik/hjʊˈrɪstɪk/
3 syllables, stressed on the second (RIS). Forms: heuristics.
Heuristic in a sentence
My heuristic for restaurants is simple: follow the locals and the longest queue.
The brain leans on heuristics, which is why first impressions stick so hard.
Similar and opposite
Similar:
- rule of thumb
- shortcut
- guideline
Where heuristic comes from
From Greek heuriskein, to find, the same root as eureka.
Test yourself
Which word fills the gap?
The brain leans on _____, which is why first impressions stick so hard.
- heuristic
- sceptic
- apophenia
Show the answer
heuristic: The brain leans on heuristics, which is why first impressions stick so hard.