critical thinking

American

[krit-i-kuhl thing-king] / ˈkrɪt ɪ kəl ˈθɪŋ kɪŋ /

noun

disciplined thinking that is clear, rational, open-minded, and informed by evidence.

The questions are intended to develop your critical thinking.

Etymology

Origin of critical thinking

First recorded in 1810–15

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.

They are moving away from entry-level tech or statistical analysis and focusing on critical thinking, communication, and human-centric fields, it says.

From BBC • May 18, 2026

“At stake here is not just the soul of education, but also the genuine development of critical thinking among the population,” Moriarty said.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 12, 2026

By and large, I don’t think most Americans are inclined toward that kind of structured, critical thinking about money and mortality.

From MarketWatch • May 11, 2026

Kim acknowledged concern about the threats AI poses to human judgment, creativity and critical thinking, but said he believes USC is up to the task.

From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 2026

The left hemisphere presides over rational, analytical and critical thinking.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023