introversion

IPA/ˌɪntrəˈvɜːʃn/
IPA/ˌɪntrəˈvɜːrʒn/

introversion — noun

1. a tendency to feel more comfortable and mentally refreshed when spending time al

1.nounB2
Definition

a tendency to feel more comfortable and mentally refreshed when spending time alone or with just a few close people, rather than in large social groups or loud gatherings

Example

Many people confuse shyness with introversion, but they are different traits.

introversion contrasted with shyness

Amani's introversion means she prefers reading a book alone to attending a loud party.

prefers + gerund to + gerund

Common collocations
  • natural introversion
  • degree of introversion
  • trait of introversion
  • introversion score
Synonyms
  • shyness

    overlaps in everyday speech but shyness involves fear of judgment, while introversion is a preference for less stimulation

  • reserve

    focuses on the behavioural sign of holding back, not the motivational cause

  • reticence

    emphasises reluctance to speak or express oneself, which may or may not accompany introversion

Antonyms
  • extroversion

    the opposite trait: gaining energy from social interaction and external activities

  • sociability

    a broader fondness for being with others, not a strict personality opposite

Usage Note

Frequently contrasted with 'extroversion' (or 'extraversion'); the two are seen as opposite ends of a personality spectrum, not a binary.

Common Mistakes

Introversion means a person hates other people.
Introversion means a person feels drained by too much social contact, not that they dislike others.
introversion is about energy source, not hostility or dislike.

2. in psychology, a stable personality pattern in which a person draws emotional en

2.nounC1
Definition

in psychology, a stable personality pattern in which a person draws emotional energy and satisfaction from their own inner world of thoughts and feelings, rather than from social activities or external events

Example

In psychology class, the professor explained that introversion is a normal personality dimension, not a disorder.

normal personality dimension — not pathological

Ramon's high introversion score on the personality test matched his quiet lifestyle.

collocation: introversion score

Common collocations
  • introversion scale
  • measure of introversion
  • introversion-extraversion dimension
  • introversion score
Synonyms
  • inwardness

    a more literary or philosophical term for being absorbed in one's own thoughts

  • self-containment

    emphasises emotional independence from others, a behavioural consequence of introversion

Antonyms
  • extroversion

    the opposite pole on the personality dimension; in psychology, often spelled 'extraversion'

Usage Note

In academic psychology, introversion is one pole of the extraversion-introversion dimension in the Big Five and Eysenck's personality models. It is not considered a flaw or a condition requiring treatment.

Common Mistakes

His introversion needs to be cured with more social activities.
His introversion is a normal part of his personality that does not need to be cured.
clinical psychology views introversion as a neutral trait, not a disorder.

3. a biological condition in which a part of the body, such as an organ, a layer of

3.nounC2
Definition

a biological condition in which a part of the body, such as an organ, a layer of tissue, or the edge of a plant structure, turns inward or folds back toward the inside of the organism

Example

The ophthalmologist diagnosed an introversion of the lower eyelid, which was causing irritation.

collocation: introversion of the eyelid

In plant biology, introversion of leaf edges helps seedlings retain moisture during dry spells.

Common collocations
  • introversion of the eyelid
  • introversion of tissue
  • introversion of leaf edges
Synonyms
  • invagination

    more common in medical contexts for a pocket-shaped inward fold

  • inversion

    a broader term for any turning inward, also used in anatomy and genetics

Antonyms
  • eversion

    the opposite process of turning outward or inside out

Usage Note

This sense is primarily used in medical and biological contexts. In medicine, the term overlaps with 'invagination' (a pocket-like folding inward). In botany, it describes a curling or folding movement of plant parts.