critical thinking

American  

[krit-i-kuhl thing-king] / ˈkrɪt ɪ kəl ˈθɪŋ kɪŋ /

noun

1. disciplined thinking that is clear, rational, open-minded, and informed by evidence.

   The questions are intended to develop your critical thinking.

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Etymology

Origin of critical thinking

First recorded in 1810–15

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

critical thinking

The others are critical thinking, agility, business acumen, people skills and professional demeanor.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026

Truly creative and inspiring art undermines that goal, because it provokes responses like empathy and critical thinking in audiences — which gets in the way of authoritarian domination.

From Salon ● Jul. 20, 2026

One 2025 MIT study went viral for its finding that students using generative AI to write essays displayed less critical thinking capability.

From Barron's ● Jul. 15, 2026

This is a good opportunity to demonstrate your critical thinking skills, Lewis noted.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 9, 2026

I try to make it seem like I’m also pondering something, even though I’ve hit my limit of critical thinking for the day.

From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer