sagacity

noun

sa·​gac·​i·​ty sə-ˈga-sə-tē How to pronounce sagacity (audio)
si-
: the quality of being sagacious

Examples of sagacity in a Sentence

a novelist of surprising sagacity considering his youthfulness
Recent Examples on the Web Over the centuries and across cultures, it’s symbolized everything from sagacity to black magic. New York Times, 15 Feb. 2024 Where’s the heroic sagacity of For Queen and Country, Malcolm X, Remember the Titans, The Manchurian Candidate, Fences, Roman J. Israel, Esq., or even Macbeth? Armond White, National Review, 1 Sep. 2023 Such sagacity is normally wasted on the Masked Observer, but as he and his retinue were shoved into the Civic Center lobby by a brusque and mighty wind, eyes parched from the blow, squatting like frontiersmen suddenly looked like an appealing option to facing the elements. al, 17 Feb. 2023 Moreover, his character is too much of an idealized stock figure, brought on at intervals to dispense sagacity, especially about the virtues of tolerance. Kyle Smith, WSJ, 27 Oct. 2022 Their life experiences hold within them more knowledge and enlightenment, more discernment and sagacity than can be found anywhere else. Gordon Monson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 8 Jan. 2023 For those eager to place real-life bets, diligent research and the stock market may offer validation of sagacity. Steven Phillips, STAT, 6 Sep. 2022 But that scholar would also have acknowledged their courage, intellectual rigor, sagacity and political skill. Barton Swaim, WSJ, 24 May 2022 In an age when women were pawns in geopolitical alliances, Eleanor was recognized for her authority, diplomacy and political sagacity — a legend in ballads even in her own time. Washington Post, 26 Nov. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sagacity.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sagacity was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near sagacity

Cite this Entry

“Sagacity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sagacity. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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