Acumen is the ability to make good judgments and quick decisions.
His sharp business acumen meant he quickly rose to the top.
Synonyms: judgment, intelligence, perception, wisdom More Synonyms of acumen
acumen in British English
(ˈækjʊˌmɛn, əˈkjuːmən)
noun
the ability to judge well; keen discernment; insight
Derived forms
acuminous (aˈcuminous)
adjective
Word origin
C16: from Latin: sharpness, from acuere to sharpen, from acus needle
acumen in American English
(əˈkjumən; ˈækjəmən)
noun
keenness and quickness in understanding and dealing with a situation; shrewdness
Word origin
L, a point, sting, mental acuteness < acuere, to sharpen < IE base *a-: see acid
COBUILD Collocations
acumen
business acumen
Examples of 'acumen' in a sentence
acumen
Colleagues from that time praised her business acumen.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Pay packets are therefore largely determined by the skills and acumen of other financiers.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But business acumen aside, there's a lot more to this job.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Here's hoping his business acumen has kicked in and he'll do a better job than expected.
The Sun (2016)
Your wellbeing is as important to me as your financial acumen.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Some praised his business acumen and decisiveness.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Some commentators would have called into question the commercial acumen of those in charge.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Such political acumen could prove indispensable for the boardroom manoeuvring to come.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Special players receptive to his demands and tactical acumen.
The Sun (2010)
She possessed a sharp business acumen and an ability to crunch numbers.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
There is no doubt he will bring financial acumen to the board.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
He simply puts his success down to his business acumen.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
He combines brains with charm and political acumen.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The question is whether she has the administrative and financial acumen.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
But there is little doubting his business acumen.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The combination of his financial acumen and withering attack appeared to have the desired effect.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Board members will be tested on their business acumen.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Many people depend directly on him for their livelihoods and many other colleagues profit from his business acumen.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
In particular, there has been a loss of defensive and tactical acumen.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
She didn't seem to have any political acumen at all.
The Sun (2014)
It is a measure of his self-confidence and considerable political acumen that he did.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
He had shown early signs of financial acumen in the 1979 oil crisis.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Both are notable more for their wayward behaviour in Hollywood nightclubs than for their political acumen.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
In fact, is there perhaps a grudging admiration for their business acumen?
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Stopping them will take huge amounts of tactical acumen, rigorous discipline and the odd slice of luck.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
In the meantime, managing without a steady income is providing a stern test of her financial acumen.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The hard part for Buckle is the daily grind of plotting how to win against teams with soggy pitches and limited tactical acumen.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
There is just as much of a distinction in wheelchair racing between sprinters relying on explosive power and the tactical acumen and endurance needed by middle-distance specialists.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Rather it is about leadership, tactical acumen and ability to empathise with a group of the world's best players.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
In other languages
acumen
British English: acumen NOUN
Acumen is the ability to make good judgments and quick decisions.
His sharp business acumen meant he quickly rose to the top.
American English: acumen
Brazilian Portuguese: perspicácia
Chinese: 敏锐
European Spanish: perspicacia
French: perspicacité
German: Scharfsinn
Italian: acume
Japanese: 眼識
Korean: 판단력
European Portuguese: perspicácia
Latin American Spanish: perspicacia
(noun)
Definition
the ability to make good decisions
Her sharp business acumen meant she quickly rose to the top.
Synonyms
judgment
Publication of the information was a serious error in judgment.
intelligence
She's a woman of exceptional intelligence.
perception
It did not require a great deal of perception to realise what he meant.
wisdom
a woman respected for her wisdom and insight
insight
He was a man of considerable insight and diplomatic skills.
wit
The information is there for anyone with the wit to use it.
ingenuity
This task is difficult and may require some ingenuity.
sharpness
cleverness
He congratulated himself on his cleverness.
keenness
the keenness of his imagination
shrewdness
His natural shrewdness tells him what is needed to succeed.
discernment
their lack of discernment and acceptance of inferior quality
perspicacity (formal)
his extraordinary political perspicacity
sagacity
a person of great sagacity and immense experience
smartness
smarts (slang, mainly US)
astuteness
With characteristic astuteness, she spoke separately to all involved.
acuteness
Everything he writes demonstrates the acuteness of his intelligence.
perspicuity
Additional synonyms
in the sense of acuteness
Everything he writes demonstrates the acuteness of his intelligence.
Synonyms
perceptiveness,
discrimination,
perception,
insight,
wit,
sensitivity,
intuition,
subtlety,
ingenuity,
sharpness,
cleverness,
keenness,
acuity,
discernment,
perspicacity (formal),
smartness,
astuteness,
canniness,
intuitiveness,
subtleness
in the sense of astuteness
With characteristic astuteness, she spoke separately to all involved.