acuity

noun acu·i·ty \ ə-ˈkyü-ə-tē , a- \

|Updated on: 18 Jun 2018

Examples: acuity in a Sentence

Editor's Note: Do you have acuity or sensitivity?

Definition of acuity

plural acuities

: keenness of perception

hearing acuity

mental acuity

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Examples of acuity in a Sentence

a worrisome deterioration in the acuity of his hearing over the years

Recent Examples of acuity from the Web

Her Bartok was informed by her usual rhythmic acuity, a true poetic sensibility and a firm tone that held its own against Salonen’s attentive accompaniment.

— john von rhein, chicagotribune.com, "Esa-Pekka Salonen wraps up CSO residency with an intense 'Transfigured Night'," 25 May 2018
Often the alarm about my hawkishness was given voice by random Russian citizens, chosen for their scrupulous honesty, no doubt, and the acuity of their political insights.

— john mccain, WSJ, "John McCain: ‘Vladimir Putin Is an Evil Man’," 10 May 2018
His acuity with historical resonance doesn’t have to.

— janet maslin, New York Times, "Jake Tapper’s ‘Hellfire Club’ Takes Us Back to McCarthy-Era America," 21 Apr. 2018
Astor was asked repeatedly to draw analog clocks as a test of her mental acuity.

— philip bump, Washington Post, "Why you may be misunderstanding the mental test that Trump passed with flying colors," 17 Jan. 2018
Houston had the personnel and the basketball acuity to stifle the defending champs.

— the crossover staff, SI.com, "2018 NBA Finals: Warriors-Cavs IV Picks, Random Predictions and More," 31 May 2018
The president is said to have been captivated by his doctor's appearance in the White House briefing room, where, following Trump's physical, Jackson extolled Trump's fitness and cognitive acuity.

— the washington post, NOLA.com, "Ronny Jackson withdraws as Trump's nominee to lead Veterans Affairs," 26 Apr. 2018
But conclusions about Trump’s mental acuity aren’t expected.

— Time, "Donald Trump Arrives for First Physical Exam as President," 12 Jan. 2018
After intense, CrossFit level workouts, Leo and his team of trainers drag the drivers to a number of activities that test their mental acuity.

— jim ayello, Indianapolis Star, "Where IndyCar drivers go to prepare their minds, bodies for rigors of Indy 500," 16 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'acuity.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Do you have acuity or sensitivity?

Acuity is nearly synonymous with at least one sense of sensitivity, yet, as is so often the case with closely-related words, there are subtle differences worth observing before you substitute one of these words for the other. Acuity does refer to a form of sensitivity, but it is most often applied to the perceptual senses (as in “visual acuity” or “auditory acuity”). It is also frequently used in reference to the intellect (as in “mental acuity”). Sensitivity has a broader range of meanings than acuity does, including “the capacity of being easily hurt.” It may be used of inanimate objects such as radios (“the sensitivity of the instruments was carefully calibrated”), a context in which acuity is unusual.

Origin and Etymology of acuity

Middle English acuite "sharpness, acridity," borrowed from Middle French acuité, borrowed from Medieval Latin acuitāt-, acuitās, from Latin acu-, stem of acuere "to sharpen" + -itāt-, -itās -ity — more at acute

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1549

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year