savvy

[ sav-ee ]

adjective

, sav·vi·er, sav·vi·est.

1. experienced, knowledgable, and well-informed; shrewd (often used in combination): a tech-savvy entrepreneur.

   consumers who are savvy about prices;

   a tech-savvy entrepreneur.

noun

1. Also savvi·ness. practical understanding; shrewdness or intelligence; common sense:

   a candidate who seemed to have no political savvy.

verb (used with or without object)

, sav·vied, sav·vy·ing.

1. to know; understand.

savvy

/ ˈsævɪ /

verb

1. to understand or get the sense of (an idea, etc)
2. no savvy
   I don't (he doesn't, etc) understand

noun

1. comprehension

adjective

1. shrewd; well-informed

Word History and Origins

Origin of savvy¹

First recorded in 1775–85; from Spanish sabe, 3rd-person singular present of saber “to know,” from Latin sapere “to be wise, taste”; sapient none

Word History and Origins

Origin of savvy¹

C18: corruption of Spanish sabe ( usted ) (you) know, from saber to know, from Latin sapere to be wise

Example Sentences

Schottenheimer’s hiring was heralded as a welcome and savvy move, at least until the first five weeks of the 2001 season.

From Washington Post

In the end however, the likelihood of there being a large-scale 2021 Chicago Marathon is far more contingent on a dramatic decline in infection rates than on any amount of organizational savvy.

From Outside Online

My kids are tech-savvy and — at present — not dealing with academic or social crises.

From Washington Post

For the sleep-deprived tech-savvy parent, being able to study your baby’s patterns with the hope of improving them is a pretty cool feature.

From Popular-Science

How to reset an iOS deviceTraditionally, Apple hasn’t been quite as savvy as Google when it comes to constantly syncing data to the cloud, but iCloud has improved in recent years.

From Popular-Science

Ares said there are instances where savvy gankers manage to exploit loopholes.

From The Daily Beast

The best, or at least most successful, are bridging the gap between punk-rock DIY ethos and social-media savvy.

From The Daily Beast

The Departed star is also a very savvy businessman, having produced hit shows like Boardwalk Empire and Entourage.

From The Daily Beast

The savvy forger with Pappy empties to fill might get his hands on some Old Weller and present it as its more illustrious cousin.

From The Daily Beast

Kids, often more tech savvy than their parents, ogle XXX-rated photos and videos before they are legally old enough to do so.

From The Daily Beast

I can't talk Spanish, and the herder says that he no savvy 'Meriky' and it's up to me to sort and claim.

From Project Gutenberg

De Lisle told me that one week had made the most astonishing difference to the savvy of these first arrivals of the New Army.

From Project Gutenberg

"Why, Roy, you shore don't savvy the way to break these wild ones," drawled Las Vegas.

From Project Gutenberg

I don't just savvy your play, Andy, and if I lose on yuh—why, it won't be the first time I ever went broke.

From Project Gutenberg

Then, of course, he was born and raised in the wilderness, and there is a whole lot of things he don't savvy.

From Project Gutenberg