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View synonyms for conventional wisdom
conventional wisdom
noun
something that is generally believed; prudence.
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Word History and Origins
Origin of conventional wisdom1
Probably earlier than 1965–70
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Idioms and Phrases
A widely held belief on which most people act. For example, According to conventional wisdom, an incumbent nearly always wins more votes than a new candidate. This term was invented by John Kenneth Galbraith, who used it in The Affluent Society (1958) to describe economic ideas that are familiar, predictable, and therefore accepted by the general public. Today it is used in any context where public opinion has considerable influence on the course of events.
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