critical thinking

American  

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

noun

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

   The questions are intended to develop your critical thinking.

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Etymology

Origin of critical thinking

First recorded in 1810–15

Example Sentences

Smart people tend to engage deeply with what little information is available, a process called critical thinking.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Investing critical thinking in sources that should have been ignored in the first place means that attention merchants and malicious actors have been gifted what they wanted, our attention,” wrote Wineburg and three other researchers—from Max Planck Institute for Human Development and the University of Bristol—in a 2023 essay.

From The Wall Street Journal

Consider lateral reading, in some ways the opposite of critical thinking.

From The Wall Street Journal

Or critical thinking vs. the hive mind?

From MarketWatch

Surrender your critical thinking for easy answers, or in the case of “Pluribus,” an easy life where you’ll never have to make a decision on your own again.

From Los Angeles Times