instinctive

UK: /ɪnˈstɪŋktɪv/ US: /ɪnˈstɪnktəv/ ,(in stingk′tiv)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•stinc•tive /ɪnˈstɪnktəv/   adj. 

1. done or felt without thinking or considering:
   an instinctive feeling of distrust; Babies have an instinctive fear of falling.
2. done or performed by instinct:
   instinctive mating patterns.
See -stin-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•stinc•tive  (in stingk′tiv), adj. 

1. of, pertaining to, or of the nature of instinct.
2. prompted by or resulting from or as if from instinct; natural;
   unlearned:
   an instinctive will to survive.

Also, in•stinc•tu•al  (in stingk′cho̅o̅ əl). 

• instinct¹ + -ive 1640–50

in•stinc′tive•ly, in•stinc′tu•al•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 2. spontaneous, intuitive, unpremeditated.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

instinctive / ɪnˈstɪŋktɪv/, instinctual adjective

1. of, relating to, or resulting from instinct
2. conditioned so as to appear innate: an instinctive movement in driving

inˈstinctively, inˈstinctually adverb