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

Then the speaker asks for wisdom and compassion to guide the council members toward actions that benefit all residents of the town and move the community forward.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

This is also a test of the conventional wisdom that Virginia is increasingly blue.

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Students and their families want to know what they’re getting for their pricey tuition, and fresh rankings can offer an alternative to the conventional educational wisdom.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Tech giant Oracle has reverted to a dual-CEO system that defies conventional wisdom, but it has broken tradition before in its evolution from databases to software, cloud-computing and AI infrastructure.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“Now the wisdom of the relationship that held it together for so long and made it so productive for both countries is being thrown out the window, and we’re losing decades of progress.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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