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:
Enzo Maresca at Manchester City seemed like common sense to me, even before they started the season with four league wins out of four, because he has worked with Pep and the club before.
From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026
Credit to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Tuesday for injecting a note of common sense into the debate.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026
Both of those companies would be stopped by common sense and consumer behavior, never mind government regulations.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 6, 2026
"This process is very unusual -- it goes against every bit of common sense in the field," said Talapin.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 30, 2026
A classic writer counts on the common sense and ordinary charity of his readers, just as in everyday conversation we know when a speaker means “in general” or “all else being equal.”
From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker
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
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
Paul Sullivan, national vice chair of Veterans for Common Sense, says the right strategy centers on trust between veterans and the VA.
From Salon ● Mar. 14, 2026
He visited Bobby in the jail and gave him a copy of The Apostle of Common Sense, a book about the writer G. K. Chesterton, which covered various matters of religion and culture.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
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.
