common sense

American  

[kom-uhn sens] / ˈkɒm ən ˈsɛns /

noun

1. sound practical judgment that is independent of specialized knowledge, training, or the like; normal native intelligence.

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common sense British  

noun

1. plain ordinary good judgment; sound practical sense

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adjective

1. inspired by or displaying sound practical sense

Common Sense Cultural  

1. (1776) A pamphlet written by Thomas Paine that called for the United States to declare independence from Britain immediately. Written in a brisk and pungent style, Common Sense had a tremendous impact and helped to persuade many Americans that they could successfully wage a war for their independence.

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Other Word Forms

• common-sense adjective
• commonsense adjective
• commonsensible adjective
• commonsensibly adverb
• commonsensical adjective
• commonsensically adverb

Etymology

Origin of common sense

1525–35; translation of Latin sēnsus commūnis, itself translation of Greek koinḕ aísthēsis

Example Sentences

"Which reinforces what players say just from their experience and from common sense -- it's just harder. It's harder on the body."

From Barron's

Computers do not have the common sense or wisdom that humans accumulate by living life.

From MarketWatch

If there was a ghost—which common sense told her there wasn’t —a good pair of legs could probably outrun it.

From Literature

There are dedicated recruitment staff at many clubs now but managers and chairmen still need a free week before any deadline, so please use some common sense and stop this madness!

From BBC

I have faith in our democratic institutions and the common sense of the American voter.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• good sense
• horse sense
• intelligence
• practicality
• rationality
• rule of thumb
• sense
• sound judgment
• sound sense
• wisdom
• wit