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

Words Nearby common sense

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How to use common sense in a sentence

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.