critical thinking

noun

1

: the act or practice of thinking critically (as by applying reason and questioning assumptions) in order to solve problems, evaluate information, discern biases, etc.

Today, what we call the Socratic method is a way of teaching that fosters critical thinking, in part by encouraging students to question their own unexamined beliefs, as well as the received wisdom of those around them.

—Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt

2

: the set of skills, methods, etc. involved in critical thinking

Media literacy enlivens how our schools teach critical thinking by serving as a bridge between the classroom and the world in which our young people live most of their waking lives.

—Wally Bowen

Using the same skills used for centuries—analysis, synthesis, and evaluation—we must look at digital literacy as another realm within which to apply elements of critical thinking.

—Barbara Jones-Kavalier and Suzanne Flannigan

—sometimes hyphenated when used before another noun

Helping students develop critical-thinking skills and information literacy is one of the core missions of libraries everywhere.

—Nancy Pearl

Examples of critical thinking in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But the reality is that as automation spreads, skills like critical thinking, communication and emotional intelligence become more valuable. —Catherine Thorbecke, Boston Herald, 18 Apr. 2026

The human brain isn’t fully formed until the mid-twenties, and the prefrontal cortex, used in planning, reasoning, emotion regulation, and critical thinking, is among the last regions to mature. —Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2026

Some 75% of women surveyed expect the critical thinking gap to get worse over the next three years, and most agree that dropping the ball on developing early-career talent will lead to a lack of capable managers to steer companies in the future. —Jennifer Liu, CNBC, 16 Apr. 2026

Some at Tuesday’s virtual hearing had similar misgivings about the potential for AI to undermine young people’s critical thinking skills, put student data at risk, or reinforce biases. —Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 15 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1815, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for critical thinking

• blinking
• clinking
• drinking
• inking
• kinking
• linking
• shrinking
• sinking
• slinking
• stinking
• winking
• freethinking