common sense

American  

[kom-uhn sens] / ˈkɒm ən ˈsɛns /

noun

1. sound practical judgment that is independent of specialized knowledge, training, or the like; normal native intelligence.

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common sense British  

noun

1. plain ordinary good judgment; sound practical sense

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adjective

1. inspired by or displaying sound practical sense

Common Sense Cultural  

1. (1776) A pamphlet written by Thomas Paine that called for the United States to declare independence from Britain immediately. Written in a brisk and pungent style, Common Sense had a tremendous impact and helped to persuade many Americans that they could successfully wage a war for their independence.

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Other Word Forms

• common-sense adjective
• commonsense adjective
• commonsensible adjective
• commonsensibly adverb
• commonsensical adjective
• commonsensically adverb

Etymology

Origin of common sense

1525–35; translation of Latin sēnsus commūnis, itself translation of Greek koinḕ aísthēsis

Example Sentences

In “Walden,” he found constant wonder in the obvious; in “Civil Disobedience,” he mined moral profundity out of common sense.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

And an underdog who stayed in the contest in defiance of steep odds and, seemingly, common sense.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026

It goes against international law and common sense.

From Salon • Mar. 19, 2026

They added they trusted their audience to use "common sense" but indicated the videos were fake in their captions.

From BBC • Mar. 9, 2026

Thus G. E. Moore thought it was common sense to believe in an external reality, but not in a creator God or a life after death, while these beliefs have seemed commonsensical to many people.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

Related Words

• good sense
• horse sense
• intelligence
• practicality
• rationality
• rule of thumb
• sense
• sound judgment
• sound sense
• wisdom
• wit