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acumen

American  
[uh-kyoo-muhn, ak-yuh-] / əˈkyu mən, ˈæk yə- /

noun

  1. keen insight; shrewdness.

    remarkable acumen in business matters.

acumen British  
/ əˈkjuːmən, ˈækjʊˌmɛn /

noun

  1. the ability to judge well; keen discernment; insight

"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

Other Word Forms

  • acuminous adjective
  • unacuminous adjective

Etymology

Origin of acumen

First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin acūmen “sharpness,” from acū-, stem of acuere “to sharpen” ( acute ) + -men, noun suffix

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.

"I appreciated his intelligence and his political acumen. I never allowed anyone to criticise him in front of me," he added.

From Barron's

Leavitt is perfect: Exuberant, eager and engaged, with the mental acumen of an abandoned sock puppet.

From Salon

Maury exploited his scientific acumen to contend for the truth of insane white supremacy beliefs, often with distorted biblical window dressing.

From Los Angeles Times

"A respected and experienced Premier League manager, Dyche brings the perfect blend of character, tactical acumen and proven achievement to guide the club through its next chapter," said a Forest statement.

From BBC

He’s been awestruck by James’s rigorous conditioning and business acumen, and says he wants to learn more from him.

From The Wall Street Journal

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.