common sense

noun

: sound and prudent judgment based on a simple perception of the situation or facts

So far, I've had the common sense not to tweet anything ghastly.

—James Poniewozik

The poker players learns that sometimes both science and common sense are wrong. There is such a thing as absolute premonition of cards, a rock bottom surety of what will happen next.

—David Mamet

With tsunamis, it may seem only common sense to Earth scientists to run away from (and not toward) the water when the sea is drawn rapidly down and away from the beach as a tsunami approaches. But that response is counterintuitive for most people.

—Thomas C. Pierson

commonsense

ˈkä-mən-ˈsen(t)s 

adjective

commonsensible

ˈkä-mən-ˈsen(t)-sə-bəl 

adjective

commonsensical

ˈkä-mən-ˈsen(t)-si-kəl 

adjective

commonsensically

ˈkä-mən-ˈsen(t)-si-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• discreetness
• discretion
• gumption [chiefly dialect]
• horse sense
• levelheadedness
• nous [chiefly British]
• policy
• prudence
• sense
• sensibleness
• wisdom
• wit

Choose the Right Synonym for common sense

sense, common sense, judgment, wisdom mean ability to reach intelligent conclusions.

sense implies a reliable ability to judge and decide with soundness, prudence, and intelligence.

a choice showing good sense

common sense suggests an average degree of such ability without sophistication or special knowledge.

common sense tells me it's wrong

judgment implies sense tempered and refined by experience, training, and maturity.

they relied on her judgment for guidance

wisdom implies sense and judgment far above average.

a leader of rare wisdom

Examples of common sense in a Sentence

You really should go to see a doctor if your leg hurts that much. It's just common sense!

Obey the laws and use common sense when operating your boat.

She's very smart but she doesn't have a lot of common sense.

Recent Examples on the Web

But transport yourself back to the early 20th century: at the same time that senseless World Wars were prompting Surrealists to lose faith in rationality, quantum physics came around, too, showing us yet another way in which common sense is good for little. —Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 20 Dec. 2024

Illustration by María Jesús Contreras The Secret History of Risotto The dish is governed by a set of laws that are rooted in tradition, rich in common sense, and aching to be broken or bent. —Emma Allen, The New Yorker, 16 Dec. 2024

In the meantime, rely on your common sense, watch out for red flags and only install software from reputable platforms. —Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 15 Dec. 2024

Still, many in the sport believed common sense would prevail in the appeals process. —Greg Engle, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

common sense

noun

: ordinary good sense and judgment

commonsense

ˌkäm-ən-ˌsen(t)s

adjective