Analytical
adjective /ˌæn.əˈlɪt.ɪ.kəl/ — Using systematic logical examination
Definition
Relating to or using analysis — the methodical examination of parts to understand the whole. An analytical mind breaks things down to understand how they work.
Beyond the definition
The intelligence that cannot help asking 'why'. Analytical thinking is not cold — it is the discipline of not accepting the first answer.
Origin & history
From Greek 'analytikos' (able to loosen) — from 'analyein' (to unloose, to resolve). Analysis is the loosening of complexity into its components.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
Her analytical approach to the problem identified three causes no one had noticed.
He was deeply analytical — he couldn't accept a feeling without understanding its source.
Analytical thinking is not opposed to creativity. It is how creativity avoids self-deception.
Synonyms
logical, systematic, methodical, diagnostic, rigorous
Antonyms
intuitive, impressionistic, vague
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Scientist examining microscopic life
A scientist looks through a microscope, with a circular view of cells and neurons next to a pipette and petri dish.
The scientist’s use of the microscope is an analytical act—breaking the whole down into cells and microbes to understand the structure of life. Their methodical, focused examination is the perfect example of using analysis to understand how things work.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration