Intension refers to the meanings or characteristics encompassed by a given word. It can be understood as a word's connotation. Intension is often dicussed with regard to extension. Extension refers to the class of things to which the word can be applied. In a simpler sense, the intension of a word can be thought of as the collections of associations the word creates in the mind of someone using or hearing it, while extension (or denotation) refers directly to the referent or referents that the word describes.
We can conceptualize the creation of words as a leap from the object or idea the word is intended to describe to the word itself, with the creation of meaning as an intervening variable. If this is the case, then intension lies between the object and the word as a part of the creation of meaning, and extension lies on the side of the object being described.
Intension (or "connotation") refers to the meaning or characteristics encompassed by a given word, often expressed by a definition.
Intension is often discussed with regard to extension.
Intension and intensionality (the state of having intension) should not be confused with intention and intentionality, which are pronounced the same and occasionally arise in the same philosophical context.
An intensionaldefinition specifies all and only the properties required of something in order that falls under the term defined (its necessary and sufficient conditions).
The distinction between the extension and the intension of a word is very similar to the distinction between a word's denotation and connotation.
The intension of the word is more brief because it includes just two properties: the property of being a man, and the property of being unmarried.
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