Meaning & use

common sense

noun·Everyday

Sound, practical judgment based on simple perception of a situation rather than specialized knowledge.

See it in a sentence

Common sense told him to check the weather forecast before planning the outdoor wedding.

It takes common sense, not a degree, to know not to leave a candle burning unattended.

A note on using this word

Common sense is usually written as two words when used as a noun; the hyphenated form common-sense functions as an adjective, as in 'a common-sense solution.'

Words with a similar meaning

practical judgmentgood sense

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

Words with an opposite meaning

foolishness

Make it your own

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