critical thinking
Americannoun
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.
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
One 2025 MIT study went viral for its finding that students using generative AI to write essays displayed less critical thinking capability.
From Barron's ● Jul. 15, 2026
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
One student confesses that when she lets AI do too much of the work, “my critical thinking skills basically vanish.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 8, 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
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
