common sense

[ kom-uhn sens ]

noun

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

common sense

noun

1. plain ordinary good judgment; sound practical sense

adjective

1. inspired by or displaying sound practical sense

Common Sense

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.

Other Words From

• com·mon-sense com·mon·sense adjective
• com·mon·sen·si·cal com·mon·sen·si·ble adjective
• com·mon·sen·si·cal·ly com·mon·sen·si·bly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of common sense¹

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

Example Sentences

Don’t burn the house down, but have fun with itWith a little common sense and some practice, you’ll wonder why you haven’t cooked with the broiler forever.

From Eater

I think it just kind of makes common sense that the number one constituency that every CEO probably cares the most about is their employees.

From Fortune

Every choice he made came from a place of courage and common sense and journalistic integrity.

From Washington Post

Use common sense in rationing your shot signals, but don’t be stingy with the whistle.

From Popular-Science

Algorithmic thinking can reduce chaos and slow-downs, identify gaps between what we are doing and need to doAs a new administration takes office, there is hope that the vaccination rollout will be infused with both common sense and urgency.

From Nautilus

Letting humans use their common sense is not an invitation to anarchy.

From The Daily Beast

Common sense is not a just a normative judgment about wisdom, but a structural feature of any functioning organization.

From The Daily Beast

We have to use common sense inclusiveness, because we are quickly getting to a place where our brain is falling out.

From The Daily Beast

But in 2014, numerous states passed common-sense public safety laws, showing that the momentum for gun safety is building.

From The Daily Beast

His ideology is just so strong and so powerful that it clouds his vision for common sense and objectiveness.

From The Daily Beast

So one's common sense fails to establish a definite reasonable time.

From Project Gutenberg

There are many cases like this in which one's common sense fails to furnish a correct, yet needful guide.

From Project Gutenberg

But surely this point of view is the very converse of the teachings of common sense.

From Project Gutenberg

His cheerfulness was unbounded, and it was matched by his goodness of heart, his broad charity, and common sense.

From Project Gutenberg

Then his mother-wit came out, his lively humour and practical common sense—all unstudied and natural.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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