knack

[nak]

noun

1. a special skill, talent, or aptitude.

   He had a knack for saying the right thing.

   Synonyms: dexterity, facility, aptness

2. a clever or adroit way of doing something.

3. a trick or ruse.

4. a sharp, cracking sound.

5. Archaic.,  a knickknack; trinket.

knack

/ næk /

noun

1. a skilful, ingenious, or resourceful way of doing something

2. a particular talent or aptitude, esp an intuitive one

Word History and Origins

Origin of knack¹

1325–75; Middle English: trick; perhaps same word as knak sharp-sounding blow, rap, cracking noise (imitative)

Word History and Origins

Origin of knack¹

C14: probably variant of knak sharp knock, rap, of imitative origin

Example Sentences

From “Civil War” to “Game Night,” Plemons has a knack for playing characters who are doggedly, dangerously obtuse, a key he’s still working in here.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Panahi has a knack for tethering simple narratives to larger political and social issues.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The only things they need are a concept, a set of thumbs and a knack for social media.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

That discomfort invariably produces mistakes—and the Brewers have an uncanny knack for taking advantage of the tiniest possible opening.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

What set top managers apart from their peers, more than any other factor, was their knack for reallocating people into just the right roles—or helping people make those moves themselves.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• aptitude 
• dexterity 
• flair 
• genius 
• ingenuity 
• propensity 
• quickness www.thesaurus.com
• savvy 
• skill