common sense

noun

: sound and prudent judgment based on a simple perception of the situation or facts

So far, I've had the common sense not to tweet anything ghastly.

—James Poniewozik

The poker player learns that sometimes both science and common sense are wrong. There is such a thing as absolute premonition of cards, a rock bottom surety of what will happen next.

—David Mamet

With tsunamis, it may seem only common sense to Earth scientists to run away from (and not toward) the water when the sea is drawn rapidly down and away from the beach as a tsunami approaches. But that response is counterintuitive for most people.

—Thomas C. Pierson

commonsense

ˈkä-mən-ˈsen(t)s 

adjective

commonsensible

ˈkä-mən-ˈsen(t)-sə-bəl 

adjective

commonsensical

ˈkä-mən-ˈsen(t)-si-kəl 

adjective

commonsensically

ˈkä-mən-ˈsen(t)-si-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Synonyms of common sense

• prudence
• wisdom
• sense
• horse sense
• wit
• discretion

Choose the Right Synonym for common sense

sense, common sense, judgment, wisdom mean ability to reach intelligent conclusions.

sense implies a reliable ability to judge and decide with soundness, prudence, and intelligence.

a choice showing good sense

common sense suggests an average degree of such ability without sophistication or special knowledge.

common sense tells me it's wrong

judgment implies sense tempered and refined by experience, training, and maturity.

they relied on her judgment for guidance

wisdom implies sense and judgment far above average.

a leader of rare wisdom

Examples of common sense in a Sentence

You really should go to see a doctor if your leg hurts that much. It's just common sense!

Obey the laws and use common sense when operating your boat.

She's very smart but she doesn't have a lot of common sense.

Recent Examples on the Web

Humans deal with these situations using common sense but current AI can freeze when encountering a situation not present in its training data. —New Atlas, 20 June 2026

As to what there is to see along the way, Miss Manners hopes that whoever follows will have the common courtesy, if not the common sense, to follow at a modest distance and with eyes elsewhere — no ifs, ands, buts or butts. —Judith Martin, Mercury News, 18 June 2026

But the cure is not to demand that one private foundation become the counterweight to three centuries of capitalist common sense. —The Atlantic, 16 June 2026

Easy passengers use their common sense. —Joey Skladany, Travel + Leisure, 14 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for common sense

• antisense
• commonsense
• effulgence
• frankincense
• ninepence
• nondefense
• recommence
• recompence
• recompense
• cense
• dense
• fence

Kids Definition

common sense

noun

: ordinary good sense and judgment

commonsense

ˌkäm-ən-ˌsen(t)s

adjective