acuity

noun

acu·​i·​ty ə-ˈkyü-ə-tē 

a-

plural acuities

: keenness of perception

hearing acuity

mental acuity

Did you know?

Do you have acuity or sensitivity?

Acuity is nearly synonymous with at least one sense of sensitivity, yet, as is so often the case with closely-related words, there are subtle differences worth observing before you substitute one of these words for the other. Acuity does refer to a form of sensitivity, but it is most often applied to the perceptual senses (as in “visual acuity” or “auditory acuity”). It is also frequently used in reference to the intellect (as in “mental acuity”). Sensitivity has a broader range of meanings than acuity does, including “the capacity of being easily hurt.” It may be used of inanimate objects such as radios (“the sensitivity of the instruments was carefully calibrated”), a context in which acuity is unusual.

Synonyms

• acuteness
• delicacy
• keenness
• perceptiveness
• perceptivity
• sensitiveness
• sensitivity
• sharpness

Examples of acuity in a Sentence

a worrisome deterioration in the acuity of his hearing over the years

Recent Examples on the Web

His awful debate performance on June 27 only reinforced widespread public concerns about his age and mental acuity. —Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 1 July 2024

President Joe Biden’s debate performance on Thursday night has sparked serious concerns on both sides of the aisle about his mental acuity and physical well-being. —Peter Cordi, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 29 June 2024

Biden’s campaign had hoped to use the debate to fend off concerns about the president’s mental acuity but the strategy backfired. —Nicole Nixon, Sacramento Bee, 28 June 2024

The campaign’s top priority was to quiet the concerns that millions of voters have had about the 81-year-old Biden’s mental acuity. —David Lauter, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English acuite "sharpness, acridity," borrowed from Middle French acuité, borrowed from Medieval Latin acuitāt-, acuitās, from Latin acu-, stem of acuere "to sharpen" + -itāt-, -itās -ity — more at acute

First Known Use

circa 1549, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing acuity

• hyper-acuity
• visual acuity

Kids Definition

acuity

noun

acu·​ity ə-ˈkyü-ət-ē 

: sharpness of perception

Medical Definition

acuity

noun

acu·​ity ə-ˈkyü-ət-ē 

plural acuities

: keenness of sense perception

acuity of hearing

see visual acuity