gumption

[guhmp-shuhn]

noun

Informal.

1. initiative; aggressiveness; resourcefulness.

   With his gumption he'll make a success of himself.

2. courage; spunk; guts.

   It takes gumption to quit a high-paying job.

3. Chiefly British Dialect.,  common sense; shrewdness.

gumption

/ ˈɡʌmpʃən /

noun

1. common sense or resourcefulness

2. initiative or courage

   you haven't the gumption to try

Other Word Forms

• gumptionless adjective
• gumptious adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of gumption¹

1710–20; originally Scots

Word History and Origins

Origin of gumption¹

C18: originally Scottish, of unknown origin

Example Sentences

Political parties, though, like companies, can’t survive simply on the gumption of the person at the top.

From Salon

Now it is down to cricket's governors to show the required guts and gumption.

From BBC

Shelley is overeager and desperate; he just lacks Jimmy’s/Saul’s imagination and gumption.

From Los Angeles Times

These days, we need more gumption and electrolytes to check CNN than we do to climb Everest.

From Salon

Throughout her life, Irawati would display this streak of gumption combined with endless empathy, especially for the women she encountered.

From BBC

Related Words

• acumen 
• cleverness www.thesaurus.com
• courage 
• good sense www.thesaurus.com
• initiative 
• resourcefulness www.thesaurus.com
• savvy 
• shrewdness