common sense
noun
sound practical judgment that is independent of specialized knowledge, training, or the like; normal native intelligence.
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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
common sense
British
noun
adjective
Common Sense
Cultural
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of common sense
1525–35; translation of Latin sēnsus commūnis, itself translation of Greek koinḕ aísthēsis
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.
See Examples For:
Rail minister Lord Hendy claimed this "common sense change" is "exactly what passengers should expect from the railway".
From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026
The whole history of America, as well as common sense, suggests otherwise.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 2, 2026
Once that axiom is treated as constitutional common sense, public safety appears already on the side of the enforcement vehicle.
From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026
"I think it's kind of common sense... it's really important to protect children, and that's little girls who are also involved in that category," she told reporters before a game Wednesday.
From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026
Although many poor African Americans rejected the philosophies, tactics, and strategies of the black elite, ultimately moral uplift ideology became the new common sense.
From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander
A 2025 study by Common Sense Media found nearly three in four American teenagers had used AI companions designed for personal conversations like those available on the platforms Character.AI,
From Barron's ● Jul. 15, 2026
According to a recent poll by Common Sense Media, 72% of U.S. teenagers say they have used AI companions, and more than half do so regularly.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 2, 2026
At Common Sense Media, we have long warned that the issue is not the material users post but the very design of tech companies’ platforms.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 27, 2026
Nearly one third of parents say their children under age 8 have used AI for school-related material, according to Common Sense Media, which surveyed more than 1,500 families.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 19, 2026
I finished reading Common Sense the night before the ball.
From "Chains" by Laurie Halse Anderson
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.
