wisdom

1 of 2

noun (1)

wis·​dom ˈwiz-dəm How to pronounce wisdom (audio)
1
a
: ability to discern inner qualities and relationships : insight
b
: good sense : judgment
c
: generally accepted belief
challenges what has become accepted wisdom among many historiansRobert Darnton
d
: accumulated philosophical or scientific learning : knowledge
2
: a wise attitude, belief, or course of action
3
: the teachings of the ancient wise men

Wisdom

2 of 2

noun (2)

: a didactic book included in the Roman Catholic canon of the Old Testament and corresponding to the Wisdom of Solomon in the Protestant Apocrypha see Bible Table
Choose the Right Synonym for wisdom

sense, common sense, judgment, wisdom mean ability to reach intelligent conclusions.

sense implies a reliable ability to judge and decide with soundness, prudence, and intelligence.

a choice showing good sense

common sense suggests an average degree of such ability without sophistication or special knowledge.

common sense tells me it's wrong

judgment implies sense tempered and refined by experience, training, and maturity.

they relied on her judgment for guidance

wisdom implies sense and judgment far above average.

a leader of rare wisdom

Examples of wisdom in a Sentence

Noun (1) She has gained a lot of wisdom over the years. a young person of great wisdom He had the wisdom to stop before he said too much. I fail to see the wisdom in doing that. He shared a valuable bit of wisdom with his daughter. These stories offer plenty of wisdom to readers.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
An organizational psychologist explains how there is wisdom in unlearning and rethinking our beliefs. Becky Meloan, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024 But of course, Von Furstenberg also imparted her own words of wisdom to conclude the day. Maia Torres, Vogue, 4 Mar. 2024 An experienced music video and short film director, René-Lortie has a strong visual sense, but also the wisdom not to impose a personal interpretation on the teen’s rebellious actions. Peter Debruge, Variety, 4 Mar. 2024 Goldman, Marley’s former publicist, recalled asking Marley about the wisdom of worshipping Selassie. John Blake, CNN, 3 Mar. 2024 The bottom line is that technology devoid of human wisdom risks harm. Gillian Oakenfull, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 The mythical creature is a symbol of luck, wisdom, strength and power in Chinese culture. Karl Mondon, The Mercury News, 25 Feb. 2024 In my experience, inspired by the wisdom of the Shaolin tradition, the essence lies in their ability to go beyond mere words. Satyen Raja, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 But the wisdom his grandfather gives doesn't work on the people Franklin meets. Emilee Coblentz, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wisdom.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English wīsdōm, from wīs wise

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1d

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of wisdom was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near wisdom

Cite this Entry

“Wisdom.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wisdom. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

wisdom

1 of 2 noun
wis·​dom ˈwiz-dəm How to pronounce wisdom (audio)
1
a
: learning acquired over a period of time : knowledge
b
: ability to see beneath the surface of things : insight
c
: good sense : judgment
2
: a wise attitude, belief, or course of action

Wisdom

2 of 2 noun
: a didactic book included in the Roman Catholic canon of the Old Testament and corresponding to the Wisdom of Solomon in the Protestant Apocrypha see bible

More from Merriam-Webster on wisdom

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