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• common sense
  common sense

  noun

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

  (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.

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

Derived Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of common sense

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

Example Sentences

"Since it has become impossible to celebrate a match without descending into riots, the only common sense response is a new doctrine: 'zero gatherings'," it demanded.

From Barron's • May 31, 2026

My advice to them is always very basic and involves a lot of common sense, or at least I hope so anyway!

From BBC • May 26, 2026

The reforms needed aren’t radical but common sense.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026

There are always threads of truth in arguments like these — enough to make ageism sound like common sense.

From MarketWatch • May 7, 2026

It sounded peculiar at first, but if you started thinking like you didn’t have no common sense atall it seemed like Cooter’d put it all together real good!

From "Elijah of Buxton" by Christopher Paul Curtis

Related Words

• acumen
• good sense
• insight
• intelligence
• judgment
• logic
• practicality
• prudence
• rationality
• sense
• sound judgment
• wisdom
• wit