adjective
Other Word Forms
- astutely adverb
- astuteness noun
Etymology
Origin of astute
First recorded in 1605–15; from Latin astūtus “shrewd, sly, cunning,” equivalent to astū- (stem of astus ) “cleverness” + -tus adjective suffix
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Hollub was regarded as a talented petroleum engineer but she was less astute as a financial manager.
From Barron's • Mar. 26, 2026
“I cannot hear your challenge, no matter how astute, articulate, and correct it is, and I will not answer. Your dialogue is not with me, but the void.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026
To Grisham’s credit, she will probably go down in history as the smartest, most politically astute press secretary of either Trump administration.
From Salon • Feb. 27, 2026
With Stones and Ake often injured and heading towards the latter part of their City careers, this appears an astute buy.
From BBC • Jan. 19, 2026
“Very astute, Harry, but the mouth organ was only ever a mouth organ.”
From "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
