common sense
noun
sound practical judgment that is independent of specialized knowledge, training, or the like; normal native intelligence.
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Common Sense
Common Sense(1776) A pamphlet written by Thomas Paine that called for the United States to declare independence from Britain immediately. Written in a brisk and pungent style, Common Sense had a tremendous impact and helped to persuade many Americans that they could successfully wage a war for their independence.
common sense
American
[kom-uhn sens]
/ ˈkɒm ən ˈsɛns /
noun
common sense
British
noun
adjective
Common Sense
Cultural
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of common sense
1525–35; translation of Latin sēnsus commūnis, itself translation of Greek koinḕ aísthēsis
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.
See Examples For:
For investors, the same common sense applies as with any other business.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026
Rail minister Lord Hendy claimed this "common sense change" is "exactly what passengers should expect from the railway".
From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026
Once that axiom is treated as constitutional common sense, public safety appears already on the side of the enforcement vehicle.
From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026
In their complaint, filed in federal court in Washington state, groups including the Center for Biological Diversity and the Sierra Club argued the government had blatantly violated "common sense, biological science, and federal law."
From Barron's ● Jul. 14, 2026
It sounded peculiar at first, but if you started thinking like you didn’t have no common sense atall it seemed like Cooter’d put it all together real good!
From "Elijah of Buxton" by Christopher Paul Curtis
NYC Common Sense, a nonpartisan advocacy group, filed a lawsuit in June challenging Mr. Mamdani’s “directive ending criminal enforcement of e-bike violations” on behalf of safety advocates, “vulnerable pedestrians” and victims of this e-bike terror.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
A 2025 study by Common Sense Media found nearly three in four American teenagers had used AI companions designed for personal conversations like those available on the platforms Character.AI,
From Barron's ● Jul. 15, 2026
Nearly one third of parents say their children under age 8 have used AI for school-related material, according to Common Sense Media, which surveyed more than 1,500 families.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 19, 2026
Paul Sullivan, national vice chair of Veterans for Common Sense, says the right strategy centers on trust between veterans and the VA.
From Salon ● Mar. 14, 2026
After some consideration, I took out Common Sense, too, and stuck all of it in the pocket I wore under my skirt, alongside the false pass.
From "Chains" by Laurie Halse Anderson
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.
