What does emotion mean?
An emotion is a strong, instinctive feeling — such as joy, anger, fear, sadness, or love — that arises in response to circumstances, moods, or interactions with others. The word covers both fleeting reactions and more sustained states of mind, and it sits at the heart of how people describe inner life: we speak of showing emotion, hiding it, being overwhelmed by it, or having mixed emotions about a decision. In psychology, an emotion is understood as a complex state involving subjective experience, bodily responses, and outward expression, often contrasted with a mood, which is longer-lasting but less intense. The word carries no fixed connotation of its own; emotions may be positive or negative. Derived forms such as 'emotional' and 'emotionally' are among the most frequently used words in English for describing temperament and behaviour.
nounA strong feeling deriving from one's circumstances, mood, or relationships with others; a natural instinctive state of mind such as joy, anger, fear, or sadness.
- A strong instinctive feeling such as joy, anger, fear, or sadness arising from one's circumstances or mood.
- (In psychology) A complex psychophysiological state involving subjective experience, physiological response, and behavioral expression.
"She spoke with such raw emotion that the whole room fell silent."
"He struggled to keep his emotions in check during the farewell speech."
"The study measured how participants' emotions shifted in response to music."
The plural is common when referring collectively to a person's feelings, as in 'mixed emotions' or 'her emotions got the better of her'.
"Saying goodbye stirred up conflicting emotions she hadn't expected."
The word 'emotion' comes from French émouvoir, meaning 'to stir up' — so every emotion you've ever felt was, literally, something stirred within you.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of emotion
Emotion entered English in the early 17th century, borrowed from French émotion, which derives from Latin emovere, 'to move out, stir up', formed from e- ('out') plus movere ('to move'). Its original sense related to physical disturbance or agitation before settling into its modern psychological sense of a strong feeling. It shares this Latin root movere with words such as motion, promote, remote, and emotive.
Related word forms
How emotion is actually used
Common in both formal and everyday registers. In psychology and academic writing, 'emotion' is often distinguished from 'mood' (a longer-lasting, less intense state) and from 'feeling' (the conscious experience of an emotion). Often used in the plural ('his emotions') when referring to someone's overall emotional state.
Easily confused with emotion
Motion refers to movement or a formal proposal, while emotion refers to a feeling or affective state — they differ only in their initial vowel.