common sense

SEE SYNONYMS FOR common sense ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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

Origin of common sense

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

common salt, common school, common scold, common seal, common sennit, common sense, common situs picketing, common snipe, common stock, common sulfur, common tannin

Words related to commonsense

real, sensible, pragmatic, businesslike, down-to-earth, rational, practical, sane, reasonable, sober, prudent, lifelike, hard-boiled, unsentimental, hardheaded, no-nonsense, realistic, shrewdness, resourcefulness, acumen

Example sentences from the Web for commonsense

British Dictionary definitions for commonsense

common sense

noun

plain ordinary good judgment; sound practical sense

adjective common-sense, common-sensical

inspired by or displaying sound practical sense

Cultural definitions for commonsense

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.