Meaning & use
Nous
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Practical intelligence, common sense, or the philosophical faculty of intellect and understanding.
See it in a sentence
It took a lot of nous to negotiate the deal without losing the client.
Ancient Greek philosophers used "nous" to describe the mind's capacity for rational understanding.
A note on using this word
In everyday British English, "nous" means practical savvy or common sense, while in classical philosophy it refers to the higher faculty of reason itself.
Words with a similar meaning
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