Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

wisdom

American  
[wiz-duhm] / ˈwɪz dəm /

noun

  1. the quality or state of being wise; knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action; sagacity, discernment, or insight.

    Synonyms:
    understanding, sense
    Antonyms:
    stupidity
  2. scholarly knowledge or learning.

    the wisdom of the schools.

    Synonyms:
    enlightenment, erudition, sapience
    Antonyms:
    ignorance
  3. wise sayings or teachings; precepts.

  4. a wise act or saying.

  5. (initial capital letter) Wisdom of Solomon.


wisdom British  
/ ˈwɪzdəm /

noun

  1. the ability or result of an ability to think and act utilizing knowledge, experience, understanding, common sense, and insight

  2. accumulated knowledge, erudition, or enlightenment

  3. archaic a wise saying or wise sayings or teachings

  4. obsolete soundness of mind

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

See information.

Other Word Forms

  • wisdomless adjective

Etymology

Origin of wisdom

First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English wīsdōm; cognate with Old Norse vīsdōmr, German Weistum. See wise 1, -dom

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.

Proponents of prediction markets said they can offer valuable insights on the economy, markets and more by channeling the wisdom of crowds, and are often more accurate than polls.

From The Wall Street Journal

Her life has included far more than skating, though, and every one of her students benefit from the hard-won wisdom she learned along the way.

From Los Angeles Times

Paying tribute to her former colleague, Baroness Angela Smith said he was "respected and loved by his colleagues for his courtesy, kindness, wisdom, loyalty and generosity of spirit".

From BBC

He also is a decisive leader who isn’t afraid to make decisions that buck conventional wisdom or the whims of his, or any, party.

From The Wall Street Journal

“The bricks themselves were forged by the sphinxes from their own mountains. They have the heat of wisdom in them,” said Nighthand.

From Literature