adj
Uncommon
savvy
SAV-ee
Savvy (adj) means Shrewd and well-informed, especially about practical matters. Example: “A savvy investor knows when to hold and when to sell.”
adj
1
Shrewd and well-informed, especially about practical matters.
"A savvy investor knows when to hold and when to sell."
"The savvy shopper always compares prices first."
noun
1
Practical knowledge or common sense about a subject.
"Her business savvy helped the startup survive its first year."
verb
1
To understand (informal).
"You savvy what I'm saying?"
How to use savvy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishPractical smarts, or being shrewd and street-wise about something.
Common pairings
tech-savvy
street savvy
business savvy
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- savvies
- Past tense
- savvied
- Comparative
- savvier
- Superlative
- savviest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A _____ investor knows when to hold and when to sell.
Etymology
From a pidgin form of "know," ultimately from Portuguese/Spanish saber, "to know," from Latin sapere, "to taste, to know."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “savvy” mean?
The word “savvy” means shrewd and well-informed, especially about practical matters. In plain terms, practical smarts, or being shrewd and street-wise about something.
How do you pronounce “savvy”?
“Savvy” is pronounced SAV-ee (/ˈsæv.i/ in IPA).
How do you use “savvy” in a sentence?
Here is “savvy” used in a sentence: “A savvy investor knows when to hold and when to sell.”
What part of speech is “savvy”?
Depending on how it is used, “savvy” can be an adjective, a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “savvy” come from?
The word “savvy” comes from Latin. From a pidgin form of "know," ultimately from Portuguese/Spanish saber, "to know," from Latin sapere, "to taste, to know.".
Is “savvy” a common word?
“Savvy” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “savvy” have?
“Savvy” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: shrewd and well-informed, especially about practical matters.
What is the difference between savvy and smart?
Savvy specifically describes being shrewd and well-informed about practical, real-world matters, such as business or technology, rather than general intelligence. Smart is broader and can describe academic ability or quick thinking with no practical focus at all.
Is savvy formal or informal English?
Savvy is generally informal to neutral in tone and is common in everyday speech, journalism, and business writing, such as in the phrase "tech-savvy." It is rarely used in strictly formal or academic writing.
Can savvy be used as a noun and a verb?
Yes. As a noun, savvy means practical knowledge or common sense about a subject, as in "business savvy." As an informal verb, savvy means to understand, as in "Do you savvy?", though this verb use is dated and mostly appears in older or stylized dialogue.
