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

All in all, the stunt perfectly captures the current state of the attention economy, in which common sense is commonly traded for viral clips. — Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 27 Aug. 2026

For years, America's been in the chokehold of unnecessarily oversized pickup trucks, but recent announcements of new vehicles show that common sense – and more reasonably proportioned utes – may soon prevail. — Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 26 Aug. 2026

As the action progresses, Doralee brings grit and common sense to the trio, showcasing Parton’s ability to deliver homespun wit without ever falling into folksy caricature. — Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026

This is an '80-20' topic, with [more than] 80% of the country having the most basic of common sense - being able to clearly define what a woman is, and recognizing someone not born as a woman should not participate in women’s sports. — Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 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