acuity

American  

[uh-kyoo-i-tee] / əˈkyu ɪ ti /

noun

1. sharpness; acuteness; keenness.

   acuity of vision;

   acuity of mind.

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acuity British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• hyperacuity noun
• nonacuity noun

Etymology

Origin of acuity

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

Example Sentences

Mr. Jensen all too often neglects his big man, but he writes with admirable acuity of the little men and women affected by it.

From The Wall Street Journal

They showed remarkable business acuity in selling the rights to new oil concessions to companies eager to get into the game.

From The Wall Street Journal

These essays show she lost none of her acuity in her final years.

From The Wall Street Journal

I just think when you have a lot of quick sketching acuity, word gets out.

From Los Angeles Times

And, just in case a few of those pesky radicals slip through the cracks, train in Krav Maga and keep a strict diet and exercise regimen to maintain optimal mental and physical acuity.

From Salon

Related Words

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