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YOUR VOCABULARY, ONE WORD AT A TIME

acuity

Noun

IPA /əˈkjuːəti/

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Meaning in plain English

The ability to notice, understand or think about things clearly and sharply.

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Pronunciation

acuity/əˈkjuːəti/

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  1. A report hides a small contradiction

  2. A sharp reader spots it

  3. The problem becomes clear

Mental acuity helps you notice and understand details quickly.

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  1. Her mental acuity made her a formidable opponent at chess.
  2. The analyst's acuity helped her spot a flaw in the argument.

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Her mental ________ made her a formidable opponent at chess.
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acuity — The ability to notice, understand or think about things clearly and sharply.

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The ability to notice, understand or think about things clearly and sharply.

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Word origin

Through French or medieval Latin from Latin acuere, meaning to sharpen.

Did you know?

Acuity can describe thought or the senses: mental acuity and visual acuity.

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acuity

/əˈkjuːəti/ (Noun)

“Acuity is formal and usually uncountable. In these examples, it refers to sharp thinking.”

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