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.

See Examples For:

critical thinking

Truly creative and inspiring art undermines that goal, because it provokes responses like empathy and critical thinking in audiences — which gets in the way of authoritarian domination.

From Salon ● Jul. 20, 2026

They highlight memory, decision-making and critical thinking as particularly at risk.

From Barron's ● Jul. 15, 2026

This is a good opportunity to demonstrate your critical thinking skills, Lewis noted.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 9, 2026

Working alongside AI tools has made critical thinking even more important than AI literacy, according to Strada’s survey of employers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 26, 2026

“I’m signing up for chess club. My mom’s making me. She says it’s important for critical thinking or something.”

From "Amina's Song" by Hena Khan

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