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

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

Though some patients could make out patterns immediately, all patients' visual acuity improved over months of training.

From Science Daily

“We anticipate the existing rate and acuity mismatch will extend well into next year,” UnitedHealthcare Chief Executive Tim Noel said on the company’s last earnings call.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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