acuity

[uh-kyoo-i-tee]

noun

1. sharpness; acuteness; keenness.

   acuity of vision;

   acuity of mind.

acuity

/ əˈkjuːɪtɪ /

noun

1. keenness or acuteness, esp in vision or thought

2. the capacity of the eye to see fine detail, measured by determining the finest detail that can just be detected

Other Word Forms

• hyperacuity noun
• nonacuity noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of acuity¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English acuite, from Old French, from Medieval Latin, Late Latin acuitās, equivalent to Latin acu(ere) to sharpen or acū ( tus ) sharpened ( acute ) + -itās -ity

Word History and Origins

Origin of acuity¹

C15: from Old French, from Latin acūtus _acute

Example Sentences

The admiration for Kirk’s political organizing skills and mental acuity cut across political lines.

From Los Angeles Times

Plenty of books have been written offering insider accounts of the White House and presenting far more dire accounts of Biden’s physical and mental acuity.

From Los Angeles Times

They arrived "with varying levels of acuity", a spokesman said.

From BBC

“The acuity indicators are not trending in the same way as the numbers. People’s level of health, well being and connectivity is not improving and is in some ways deteriorating.”

From Los Angeles Times

The former president alleged that the investigation into his mental acuity and use of an autopen was a ruse to distract from the "disastrous legislation" Republicans hope to push through Congress.

From Salon

Related Words

• awareness 
• brilliance 
• guile 
• ingenuity 
• insight 
• intellect 
• intelligence 
• intuition 
• judgment 
• sensitivity 
• shrewdness 
• vision 
• wisdom 
• wit