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business acumen

American  
[biz-nis-uh-kyoo-muhn, ak-yuh-muhn] / ˈbɪz nɪs əˈkyu mən, ˈæk yə mən /

noun

  1. an astute understanding of how a business functions, supported by the ability to manage, strategize, and make sound decisions.


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.

“Ted’s business acumen and sailing acumen were analogous,” his friend and former tactician, sailing Hall of Famer Gary Jobson said Wednesday.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026

And he may need his business acumen to help NMG succeed in difficult commercial times.

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026

OpenAI still loses billions of dollars every year, and a whole lot of people have questions about the company’s business acumen and culture.

From Slate • Feb. 10, 2026

Nicknamed "Superman" for his business acumen, the 97-year-old and his companies are woven into the fabric of Hong Kong life through everything from internet services to supermarket chains.

From Barron's • Jan. 30, 2026

J. T. once showed his ledgers to the board of directors to prove, as if proof were needed, the extent of his business acumen.

From "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything" by Steven D. Levitt

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