Meaning & use

acumen

noun·Advanced

Keen insight and sound judgment, especially in practical or professional matters.

See it in a sentence

Her business acumen helped the small startup grow into a major company.

Years of trading gave him sharp financial acumen that few could match.

A note on using this word

Acumen is almost always paired with a modifying noun, such as "business acumen" or "political acumen," specifying the area of expertise.

Words with a similar meaning

shrewdnessinsight

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “acumen”, then compare your use with the examples above.

Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.