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

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

“His people skills have improved a lot, and his critical thinking skills,” Reyes said.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

"It takes critical thinking to develop and use AI tools in ways that make real advances in science, technology and the humanities," Burton says.

From Science Daily • Apr. 23, 2026

I try to make it seem like I’m also pondering something, even though I’ve hit my limit of critical thinking for the day.

From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer

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