common sense

[ kom-uhn sens ]
See synonyms for: common sensecommonsensecommonsensiblecommonsensical on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. sound practical judgment that is independent of specialized knowledge, training, or the like; normal native intelligence.

Origin of common sense

1
1525–35; translation of Latin sēnsus commūnis, itself translation of Greek koinḕ aísthēsis

Other words from common sense

  • com·mon-sense, com·mon·sense, adjective
  • com·mon·sen·si·cal, com·mon·sen·si·ble, adjective
  • com·mon·sen·si·cal·ly, com·mon·sen·si·bly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use common sense in a sentence

  • Grant's a rugged sort of commonsense chap—hates show and fuss.

    Red Pepper Burns | Grace S. Richmond
  • It is not sound science, it is not good philosophy, it is not even commonsense.

    Theism or Atheism | Chapman Cohen
  • Statistics don't impress me as they do some people, and I would far rather rely upon your commonsense than upon any figures.

  • Pin him down to the one fact which your own commonsense teaches you, that the wealth of the country is unequally distributed.

British Dictionary definitions for common sense

common sense

noun
  1. plain ordinary good judgment; sound practical sense

adjectivecommon-sense, common-sensical
  1. inspired by or displaying sound practical sense

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for Common Sense

Common Sense

(1776) A pamphlet written by Thomas Paine that called for the United States to declare independence from Britain immediately. Written in a brisk and pungent style, Common Sense had a tremendous impact and helped to persuade many Americans that they could successfully wage a war for their independence.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.