noun

common sense

KOM-uhn SENS

Common sense (noun) means Sound practical judgement about everyday matters, of the kind most people are expected to have without special training. Example: “It is just common sense to check the tyres before a long drive.”

noun

Sound practical judgement about everyday matters, of the kind most people are expected to have without special training.

"It is just common sense to check the tyres before a long drive."

"She had no formal qualifications, but plenty of common sense."

adjective

Based on ordinary practical judgement rather than theory or specialist knowledge. Usually written with a hyphen before a noun.

"The report ends with a few common-sense suggestions for cutting costs."

How to Use Common sense

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe basic good judgement you expect an ordinary person to use.

When to use it

Neutral and very common in both speech and writing.

Memory tip

Common sense is uncountable — say "a lot of common sense", never "a common sense".

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

horse sense conventional wisdom

Common pairings

use your common sense a matter of common sense defies common sense common-sense approach

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

It is just _____ to check the tyres before a long drive.

Etymology

A rendering of Latin sensus communis, originally the faculty that unites the impressions of the five senses; the modern meaning of ordinary practical judgement developed in English.

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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good sense practical judgement horse sense level-headedness prudence practical sensible down-to-earth

Antonyms

foolishness impracticality

Related Words

care practice useful intelligence reasonable practical wise judgment

Rhymes for common sense

tense sense dense incense immense offense intense license expense defense nonsense condense

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is common sense one word or two?

As a noun it is two words: "use your common sense". When it comes before a noun as a modifier it is normally hyphenated: "a common-sense approach". The single word "commonsense" is also accepted as an adjective, especially in American English.

What is the difference between common sense and intelligence?

Intelligence is the general capacity to learn, reason and solve problems, including abstract ones. Common sense is narrower and more practical: knowing what to do in ordinary situations. A highly intelligent person can lack common sense, and the reverse is just as possible.

Is common sense really common?

Not as reliably as the phrase suggests. What counts as obvious depends on experience and culture, so the same decision can look like plain common sense to one person and a bad idea to another.

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