A clairvoyant is someone who claims to see or know things that are hidden from ordinary sight, especially events happening far away or in the future. The word comes from French words meaning “clear seeing.”

In stories and legends, a clairvoyant might predict upcoming events, describe something happening in a distant place, or sense information they couldn't possibly know through normal means. Fortune tellers sometimes claim to be clairvoyant, saying they can glimpse your future or communicate with spirits.

Most scientists are skeptical of clairvoyance because no one has ever demonstrated these abilities under controlled testing conditions. When someone seems to predict the future accurately, it's usually due to lucky guessing, careful observation of patterns, or vague statements that could apply to many situations.

People sometimes use clairvoyant loosely to describe someone with excellent intuition or insight. If your friend always seems to know what you're thinking, you might jokingly call them clairvoyant. A detective who solves a mystery with brilliant deduction might seem almost clairvoyant in piecing together clues others missed, though they're really using logic and observation rather than supernatural powers.