subconscious

From sub- +‎ conscious.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /sʌbˈkɒn.ʃəs/, /sʌbˈkɒn.t͡ʃəs/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /sʌbˈkɑn.ʃəs/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɒnʃəs, -ɒntʃəs, -ɑnʃəs

subconscious (comparative more subconscious, superlative most subconscious)

1. (psychology, no longer in technical use) Occuring in the part of our mind that we are not normally aware of.

   The sense of smell can be a subconscious influence on our actions.

   • 2022 March 19, Bartleby [pseudonym], “Why loafing can be work”, in Economist‎^[1], archived from the original on 17 March 2022:

     The “name-letter effect” refers to the subconscious bias that people have for the letters in their own name, and for their own initials in particular. They are more likely to choose careers, partners and brands that start with their initials (Joe becomes a joiner, marries Judy and loves Jaffa cakes).

2. Partially conscious. (Can we verify⁽⁺⁾ this sense?)

subconscious (usually uncountable, plural subconsciouses)

1. (psychology) The part of the mind that we are not normally aware of.

   Synonyms: subconsciousness, subconscious mind

   A person can sometimes wake up knowing the solution to a problem that their subconscious has been working on.

   • 2001 June 21, “At the back of the mind”, in Economist‎^[2], archived from the original on 12 October 2024:

     At a recent meeting of the Organisation for Human Brain Mapping, held in Brighton, England, they explained how brain-scanning has revealed differences in the ways that traumatised and healthy brains respond to the world. This enables researchers to peer into the subconscious of traumatised patients.