savvy

1 of 4

adjective

sav·​vy ˈsa-vē 

savvier; savviest

: having or showing perception, comprehension, or shrewdness especially in practical matters

savvily adverb

savviness noun

savvy

2 of 4

noun (1)

: practical know-how

political savvy

savvy

3 of 4

verb

savvied; savvying

: understand

savviness

4 of 4

noun (2)

sav·​vi·​ness

ˈsavēnəs, 

-vin-

plural -es

: the quality or state of being savvy

Did you know?

While the noun savvy, meaning "practical know-how" (as in "her political savvy"), and the adjective use (as in "a savvy investor") are more common, the verb savvy is the oldest of the trio. (If you associate it with Captain Jack Sparrow of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, you'll be pleased to know his use—as in, "I'm Captain Jack Sparrow. Savvy?"—is not anachronistic; the verb was the only savvy option extant in the movies' early 18th-century setting.) Current evidence dates the verb savvy to the late 17th century, when English speakers altered a word—sabi, meaning "know"—they were hearing in English-based creoles and pidgins (a pidgin is a simplified language or dialect that speakers of different languages use to communicate with one another; a creole is a language that evolves from a pidgin to become a native language for a speech community). Sabi has its roots in Portuguese sabe, meaning "he knows," and it ultimately comes from Latin sapere, meaning "to be wise."

Synonyms of savvy

Adjective

• smart
• astute
• shrewd

Noun (1)

• skills
• experience
• expertise
• proficiency

Verb

• know
• understand
• appreciate
• decipher
• recognize
• comprehend
• grasp
• see
• sense

Examples of savvy in a Sentence

Adjective

She's a very savvy investor.

He is savvy about computers.

Noun (1)

she's an excellent scholar of political science, but lacks the kind of savvy needed to run for public office

Verb

the man growled, “Don't ever date my daughter again—you savvy?”

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

As these 50 million or so American youngsters (about 2 billion globally) begin to make their mark on the culture, Is your marketing department at least as savvy as an 8th grader? —Greg Petro, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026

To top it off, the bag is built with anti-slash fabric, so that even the savviest thieves can’t get into it. —Jasmine Gomez, Travel + Leisure, 11 June 2026

Noun

Cassie’s OnlyFans adventures, for interest, were depicted with a kind of sneering derision toward the character’s poor judgement and lack of savvy. —Alison Herman, Variety, 1 June 2026

The good news is that political savvy can be developed. —Harrison Monarth, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

alteration of sabi know (in English-based creoles and pidgins), from Portuguese sabe he knows, from saber to know, from Latin sapere to be wise — more at sage

First Known Use

Adjective

1826, in the meaning defined above

Noun (1)

circa 1785, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1686, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for savvy

• navvy

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Kids Definition

savvy

1 of 3 verb

sav·​vy ˈsav-ē 

savvied; savvying

: comprehend sense 1, understand

savvy

2 of 3 noun

: useful understanding : shrewdness

savvy

3 of 3 adjective

savvier; savviest

: having a practical understanding or knowledge of something

a savvy stock market investor