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Synonyms

acumen

American  
[uh-kyoo-muhn, ak-yuh-] / əˈkyu mən, ˈæk yə- /

noun

  1. keen insight; shrewdness.

    remarkable acumen in business matters.
acumen British  
/ əˈkjuːmən, ˈækjʊˌmɛn /

noun

  1. the ability to judge well; keen discernment; insight

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • acuminous adjective
  • unacuminous adjective

Etymology

Origin of acumen

First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin acūmen “sharpness,” from acū-, stem of acuere “to sharpen” ( acute ) + -men, noun suffix

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Board members were impressed with his business acumen, charisma and his deep love for Disney and its storied history.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 18, 2026

It bursts with insights that mix journalistic acumen with gossip, backed by a score generously seasoned with mischievous violin string plucking.

From Salon • Mar. 14, 2026

And he may need his business acumen to help NMG succeed in difficult commercial times.

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026

Another key to his acumen was his grasp of history.

From Barron's • Feb. 27, 2026

Over at the country club, or in enormous corner offices with picture windows that seemed to deserve something more than wide-angle views of scrub brush and mesquite, they confused luck with business acumen.

From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.