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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

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

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

Here, already, he moves to isolate Catiline from “everyone”— “the people, ” “allgood men, ” “this venerable body”—and to present his arrogance as so contrary to common sense as to be bewildering and unnatural.

From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith

Related Words

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