conventional wisdom

noun

: the generally accepted belief, opinion, judgment, or prediction about a particular matter

Examples of conventional wisdom in a Sentence

Conventional wisdom in Hollywood says that a movie can't succeed unless it stars a famous actor or actress.

Recent Examples on the Web

While conventional wisdom had long been that consumers should build up a certain level of savings — six months' worth of living expenses, for example — those who study the accounts now consider saving to be a dynamic process of paying in, withdrawing, and then replenishing. — Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 23 June 2026

Decorating rules can be helpful guidelines, but adhering too strictly to conventional wisdom can seriously cramp your style. — Kristin Hohenadel, The Spruce, 23 June 2026

For a long time after COVID, the conventional wisdom was that remote work was what everyone wanted. — Malte Kramer, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026

House of the Dragon’s season-three premiere upsets the conventional wisdom. — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 22 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for conventional wisdom

• unwisdom