acuity

[ uh-kyoo-i-tee ]

noun

1. sharpness; acuteness; keenness:

   acuity of vision;

   acuity of mind.

acuity

/ əˈkjuːɪtɪ /

noun

1. keenness or acuteness, esp in vision or thought
2. the capacity of the eye to see fine detail, measured by determining the finest detail that can just be detected

Other Words From

• hyper·a·cui·ty noun
• nona·cui·ty noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of acuity¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English acuite, from Old French, from Medieval Latin, Late Latin acuitās, equivalent to Latin acu(ere) to sharpen or acū ( tus ) sharpened ( acute ) + -itās -ity

Word History and Origins

Origin of acuity¹

C15: from Old French, from Latin acūtus acute

Example Sentences

Figuring out how memories form may ultimately help us learn more about ourselves and keep our mental acuity intact.

From MIT Technology Review

They relished this secondary seek-and-find game, which made its way into academic studies and mental acuity tests, and later turned Nina herself into a reluctant celebrity.

From Washington Post

For instance, in one study looking at the impact of swimming on mental acuity in the elderly, researchers concluded that swimmers had improved mental speed and attention compared with nonswimmers.

From Popular-Science

As babies get in the five month to one year range, they can see objects farther away and with more acuity.

From Popular-Science

Such cheap, tiny models could help students learn about proteins regardless of vision acuity, Shaw says.

From Science News

In the classic skillset of piloting, mental acuity, and its coordination with hand and foot movements, is equally vital.

From The Daily Beast

Borges, at first, was oblivious to her absolute lack of intellectual acuity.

From The Daily Beast

But it is the emotional acuity that shines through all these works that makes your heart sing.

From The Daily Beast

Beyond the mental acuity needed to focus through the pain, the young woman must also abide by a strict diet.

From The Daily Beast

The unblinking electronic eye was an extension of his own reflexes and acuity—when the red light went on, all else was excluded.

From The Daily Beast

In full acuity of vision even high degrees of hypermetropia are no trouble to children.

From Project Gutenberg

The examination showed for the right eye hypermetropia 1·5, for the left myopia 3·5 D.; full acuity of vision on both sides.

From Project Gutenberg

Full visual acuity on both sides—in the first examination slight myopia - ·75 D. is specified, afterwards emmetropia.

From Project Gutenberg

The acuity of hearing was no longer so pronounced and the sense of refreshment, although still present, was not intense.

From Project Gutenberg

The doctor must correct, as far as possible, the want of acuity noticed.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• awareness
• brilliance
• guile
• ingenuity
• insight
• intellect
• intelligence
• intuition
• judgment
• sensitivity
• shrewdness
• vision
• wisdom
• wit