common sense
noun
sound practical judgment that is independent of specialized knowledge, training, or the like; normal native intelligence.
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Origin of common sense
1525–35; translation of Latin sēnsus commūnis, itself translation of Greek koinḕ aísthēsis
OTHER WORDS FROM common sense
common-sense, com·mon·sense, adjectivecom·mon·sen·si·cal, com·mon·sen·si·ble, adjectivecom·mon·sen·si·cal·ly, com·mon·sen·si·bly, adverbDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for common sense
Her mother—so self-possessed, and commonsensical—to look and speak like this!
The Forsyte Saga, Volume III.|John Galsworthy
British Dictionary definitions for common sense
common sense
noun
plain ordinary good judgment; sound practical sense
adjective common-sense, common-sensical
inspired by or displaying sound practical sense
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Cultural definitions for 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.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.