Meanings
theory of mind1
plural theories of mind · alternative Theory of Mind · alternative initialism ToM
- countableuncountablehuman sciencesThe ability to form an opinion about what other people are thinking.
Lack of theory of mind is a classic symptom of autism-spectrum disorders
1 more example
Older kids understand more broadly that other people have different thoughts, beliefs, and knowledge than they, the landmark of achieving Theory of Mind (ToM).
2017, Robert Sapolsky, chapter 7, in Behave, Penguin, →ISBNAntonyms: mindblindness
- broadlycountableuncountablehuman sciencesThe intellectual ability to understand that different persons (other than the self) might have different intentions and knowledge.
Theory of Mind2
plural Theories of Mind
- countableuncountableAlternative letter-case form of theory of mind.
Synonyms & antonyms
nounThe ability to form an opinion about what other people are thinking.
Translations
Chinese Mandarin 心智理論 /心智理论
- 心智理論 /心智理论 (xīnzhì lǐlùn)ability to form an opinion about what other people are thinking
Finnish mielen teoria
- mielen teoriaability to form an opinion about what other people are thinking
Greek θεωρία του νου, νοοθεωρία
- θεωρία του νου (theoría tou nou)ability to form an opinion about what other people are thinking
- νοοθεωρία (nootheoría)ability to form an opinion about what other people are thinking
Hungarian tudatelmélet
- tudatelméletability to form an opinion about what other people are thinking
Cite this entry
theory of mind. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/theory%20of%20mind
“theory of mind.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/theory%20of%20mind. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “theory of mind,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/theory%20of%20mind.
Source: theory of mind on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.