Intention vs. Intension — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on May 28, 2024
Intention refers to a planned action or goal, while intension refers to the inherent qualities of a concept.
Difference Between Intention and Intension
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Intention primarily relates to the purpose or aim behind an action or thought. It denotes one's resolve to execute a particular action or achieve a specific result. On the other hand, intension is a term used in logic and linguistics that pertains to the internal content or inherent attributes that make up the meaning of a term. For instance, when you intend to read a book, the goal is to acquire knowledge or entertainment. The intension of "book" could be pages, binding, text, etc.
Intention can be seen in the context of our everyday lives. When someone says they have the intention to exercise, it means they plan or aim to work out. Intension, conversely, is a more specialized term. If you take the word "dog", its intension encompasses ideas like mammal, four-legged, barks, etc.
While intention is forward-looking, indicating a future commitment, intension delves deeper into the present understanding or meaning of a term. For instance, if someone has the intention to become a vegetarian, they aim to change their diet in the future. The intension of "vegetarian" includes concepts like non-meat eater, plant-based diet, etc.
In essence, while intention points towards an anticipated action or result, intension points inward, drawing attention to the inherent qualities or attributes of a term. They may sound similar, but they have distinct roles in language and thought.
Comparison Chart
Usage
Commonly used in everyday language
Mostly used in philosophy, linguistics, and logic
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Meaning
Refers to a planned action or goal
Refers to the inherent qualities or meaning of a term
Direction
Forward-looking
Inward-looking
Context
Related to future actions or plans
Related to the current understanding or attributes of a term
Example
I have the intention to learn
The intension of "bird" includes attributes like "feathered" and "flies"
Compare with Definitions
Intention
A purpose or plan to execute a specific action.
She went to the store with the intention of buying milk.
Intension
The set of attributes inherent in a concept.
The intension of chair includes concepts like furniture and sitting.
Intention
The aim or objective behind an action.
His intention was to surprise his friend on his birthday.
Intension
A term's comprehensive attributes.
The intension of mother encompasses female, parent, and caretaker.
Intention
A design or resolve to do something.
She painted with clear intention and focus.
Intension
The internal content of a term.
One's intension of freedom can differ based on personal experiences.
Intention
The mental state of committing to an act.
The intention behind his gift was genuine appreciation.
Intension
The qualitative meaning of a word.
The intension of school can vary based on cultural contexts.
Intention
(obsolete) Tension; straining, stretching.
Intension
Intensity or the act of becoming intense .
Intention
(usually plural) the goal with respect to a marriage proposal;
His intentions are entirely honorable
Intension
In linguistics, logic, philosophy, and other fields, an intension is any property or quality connoted by a word, phrase, or another symbol. In the case of a word, the word's definition often implies an intension.
Intention
Intention is a mental state that represents a commitment to carrying out an action or actions in the future. Intention involves mental activities such as planning and forethought.
Intension
The internal content of a concept.
Intention
A thing intended; an aim or plan
He announced his intention to stand for re-election
She was full of good intentions
Intension
Resolution or determination.
Intention
The healing process of a wound.
Intension
The state or quality of being intense; intensity.
Intention
Conceptions formed by directing the mind towards an object.
Intension
The act of becoming intense or more intense; intensification.
Intention
The action or fact of intending
Are computers capable of intention?.
Intension
(Logic) The sum of the attributes contained in a term.
Intention
An aim that guides action; an objective
My intention is to learn Russian.
Intension
Any property or quality connoted by a word, phrase or other symbol, contrasted with actual instances in the real world to which the term applies.
Intention
Intentions Purpose with respect to marriage
She worried that his intentions were not honorable.
Intension
(dated) A straining, stretching, or bending; the state of being strained.
The intension of a musical string
Intention
(Medicine) The process by which or the manner in which a wound heals.
Intension
A straining, stretching, or bending; the state of being strained; as, the intension of a musical string.
Intention
(Archaic) Import; meaning.
Intension
Increase of power or energy of any quality or thing; intenseness; fervency.
Sounds . . . likewise do rise and fall with the intension or remission of the wind.
Intention
A course of action that a person intends to follow.
My intention was to marry a wealthy widow.
It’s easy to promise anything when you have no intention of fulfilling any of it.
Intension
The collective attributes, qualities, or marks that make up a complex general notion; the comprehension, content, or connotation; - opposed to extension, extent, or sphere.
This law is, that the intension of our knowledge is in the inverse ratio of its extension.
Intention
The goal or purpose.
The intention of this legislation is to boost the economy.
Intension
What you must know in order to determine the reference of an expression
Intention
A stretching or bending of the mind toward an object or a purpose (an intent); closeness of application; fixedness of attention; earnestness.
Intension
The inherent or intrinsic meaning of a term.
The term fruit has an intension that includes edible and comes from a plant.
Intention
(obsolete) The object toward which the thoughts are directed; end; aim.
Intention
(obsolete) Any mental apprehension of an object.
Intention
(medicine) The process of the healing of a wound.
Intention
To intend.
Intention
A stretching or bending of the mind toward an object; closeness of application; fixedness of attention; earnestness.
Intention is when the mind, with great earnestness, and of choice, fixes its view on any idea.
Intention
A determination to act in a certain way or to do a certain thing; purpose; design; as, an intention to go to New York.
Hell is paved with good intentions.
Intention
The object toward which the thoughts are directed; end; aim.
In [chronical distempers], the principal intention is to restore the tone of the solid parts.
Intention
The state of being strained. See Intension.
Intention
Any mental apprehension of an object.
Intention
An anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions;
His intent was to provide a new translation
Good intentions are not enough
It was created with the conscious aim of answering immediate needs
He made no secret of his designs
Intention
An act of intending; a volition that you intend to carry out;
My intention changed once I saw her
Intention
The direction or orientation of a thought or act.
The intention of his research is to find a cure.
Common Curiosities
What is the basic difference between intention and intension?
Intention refers to a planned action or goal, while intension refers to the inherent qualities or meaning of a concept.
Is intension a commonly used term?
No, intension is primarily used in philosophy, linguistics, and logic to discuss the intrinsic attributes of a term or concept.
Can intention be related to future plans?
Yes, intention often points towards a future action or commitment someone plans to undertake.
Does intension have anything to do with tension?
No, despite the phonetic similarity, "intension" and "tension" are unrelated in meaning.
Can two words have the same intension?
Yes, two different words, especially synonyms, might share a similar intension but could differ in nuance or connotation.
How can one differentiate between someone's intention and motive?
While both are related to the reason behind an action, "intention" more directly refers to the planned action, while "motive" delves into the underlying cause or emotion driving that intention.
Is intention always about positive actions?
Not necessarily. Intention simply indicates a plan or aim, which can be either positive or negative based on context.
How does intension relate to extension in linguistics?
While intension refers to the inherent attributes of a concept, extension refers to the set of all objects that fit a term. For instance, the intension of "dog" might include "mammal" and "barks", whereas its extension would be all the dogs in the world.
How is intention used in a sentence?
Intention is used to denote a purpose or aim, e.g., "She visited the doctor with the intention of getting a check-up."
Do people often confuse intention with intension due to their similarity in sound?
Yes, because of their phonetic similarity and overlapping letters, "intention" and "intension" are occasionally misused or confused.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
