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Synonyms

common sense

American  
[kom-uhn sens] / ˈkɒm ən ˈsɛns /

noun

  1. sound practical judgment that is independent of specialized knowledge, training, or the like; normal native intelligence.

common sense British  

noun

  1. plain ordinary good judgment; sound practical sense

"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

adjective

  1. inspired by or displaying sound practical sense

"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
Common Sense Cultural  

  1. (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.

Other Word Forms

  • common-sense adjective
  • commonsense adjective
  • commonsensible adjective
  • commonsensibly adverb
  • commonsensical adjective
  • commonsensically adverb

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.

Koch has already said she will miss the "teamwork and camaraderie" and the "common sense of purpose on the mission".

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

And an underdog who stayed in the contest in defiance of steep odds and, seemingly, common sense.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026

It goes against international law and common sense.

From Salon • Mar. 19, 2026

“But he was kind of one of the lighthouses of integrity and common sense and spoke truth to power, but also got the powers to speak to one another.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026

By now Big Ma had worn herself out scolding me in the names of our family and my lack of good common sense.

From "P.S. Be Eleven" by Rita Williams-Garcia

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.