wisdom

[wiz-duhm]

noun

1. the quality or state of being wise; knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action; sagacity, discernment, or insight.

   Synonyms: understanding, sense
   Antonyms: stupidity

2. scholarly knowledge or learning.

   the wisdom of the schools.

   Synonyms: enlightenment, erudition, sapience
   Antonyms: ignorance

3. wise sayings or teachings; precepts.

4. a wise act or saying.

5. (initial capital letter),  Wisdom of Solomon.

wisdom

/ ˈwɪzdəm /

noun

1. the ability or result of an ability to think and act utilizing knowledge, experience, understanding, common sense, and insight

2. accumulated knowledge, erudition, or enlightenment

3. archaic,  a wise saying or wise sayings or teachings

4. obsolete,  soundness of mind

Other Word Forms

• wisdomless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of wisdom¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English wīsdōm; cognate with Old Norse vīsdōmr, German Weistum. See wise ¹, -dom

Word History and Origins

Origin of wisdom¹

Old English wīsdōm; see _wise ¹ , _-dom

Synonym Study

See information.

Example Sentences

OK, but the conventional wisdom among many in Silicon Valley is that AI-powered chatbots and assistants will replace the need for search.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Said Curren: “It was a great experience. He has a lot of wisdom and knowledge to share.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

With the youthful but formidable Lewis, accompanied by the wisdom and stewardship of senior figures like Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Micky McIlorum, Hull KR have assembled one of the most forbidding sides of the modern era.

Read more on BBC

This past week, however, he questioned the wisdom of her new deal with OpenAI, under which OpenAI stands to receive 160 million shares of AMD stock in phases if certain milestones are met.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Economists and other experts have long repeated the conventional wisdom that the stock market isn’t the economy, meaning that temporary pullbacks on Wall Street don’t always ripple as far as the average American’s pocketbook.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• acumen 
• caution 
• common sense 
• experience 
• foresight 
• insight 
• intelligence 
• judgment 
• knowledge 
• poise 
• prudence 
• sanity 
• savvy 
• sophistication 
• understanding