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UK [ˈwɪzdəm] / US noun [uncountable]
1) the ability to make good decisions based on knowledge and experience

The Egyptian leader was praised for his courage and wisdom.

2) knowledge that you have gained over a long period
the fount of all wisdom (= someone who knows everything):

You can't argue with a child who thinks their teacher is the fount of all wisdom.

conventional/received/traditional wisdom — beliefs or opinions that most people accept to be correct

The conventional wisdom is that governments should lead rather than simply reflect public opinion.

in his/her/their wisdomhumorous used for emphasizing that you do not understand why someone has done something and you think it seems silly

The last government, in its infinite wisdom, decided not to introduce the measure.

pearls/words of wisdom — very wise remarks. This expression is often used for saying that a remark is very silly

The media assembled to catch the minister's pearls of political wisdom.

the wisdom of (doing) something — how sensible something is

People are already questioning the wisdom of the move.

He disagreed with the minister on the wisdom of raising taxes.


English dictionary. 2014.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Wisdom — is a concept of personal gaining of knowledge, understanding, experience, discretion, and intuitive understanding, along with a capacity to apply these qualities well towards finding solutions to problems. It is the judicious and purposeful… …   Wikipedia

  • Wisdom — Wis dom ( d[u^]m), n. [AS. w[imac]sd[=o]m. See {Wise}, a., and { dom}.] [1913 Webster] 1. The quality of being wise; knowledge, and the capacity to make due use of it; knowledge of the best ends and the best means; discernment and judgment;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Wisdom — Données clés Titre original Wisdom Réalisation Emilio Estévez Robert Wise (non crédité) Scénario Emilio Estévez Acteurs principaux Demi Moore Emilio Estévez T …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Wisdom — ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Jack Wisdom (* 1953), amerikanischer Physiker Arthur John Terence Dibben Wisdom, besser bekannt als John Wisdom (1904 1993), britischer Philosoph Norman Wisdom (1915–2010), britischer Schauspieler Tom… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • wisdom — O.E. wisdom, from wis (see WISE (Cf. wise) (adj.)) + DOM (Cf. dom). A common Gmc. compound (Cf. O.S., O.Fris. wisdom, O.N. visdomr, O.H.G. wistuom wisdom, Ger. Weistum judicial sentence serving as a precedent ). Wisdom teeth …   Etymology dictionary

  • wisdom — I noun acumen, astuteness, caliber, clear thinking, cognition, common sense, comprehension, discernment, discretion, edification, enlightenment, erudition, experience, good judgment, information, insight, intellectuality, intelligence, knowledge …   Law dictionary

  • Wisdom — Wisdom, MT U.S. Census Designated Place in Montana Population (2000): 114 Housing Units (2000): 88 Land area (2000): 0.949779 sq. miles (2.459917 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.007316 sq. miles (0.018949 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.957095 sq.… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Wisdom, MT — U.S. Census Designated Place in Montana Population (2000): 114 Housing Units (2000): 88 Land area (2000): 0.949779 sq. miles (2.459917 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.007316 sq. miles (0.018949 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.957095 sq. miles (2.478866 …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • wisdom — [wiz′dəm] n. [ME < OE < wis, WISE1 + dom, DOM] 1. the quality of being wise; power of judging rightly and following the soundest course of action, based on knowledge, experience, understanding, etc.; good judgment; sagacity 2. learning;… …   English World dictionary

  • wisdom — judgment, *sense, gumption Analogous words: discretion, *prudence, foresight: judiciousness, sageness, saneness, sapience (see corresponding adjectives at WISE): sagacity, perspicacity, shrewdness (see corresponding adjectives at SHREWD) Antonyms …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • wisdom — [n] insight, common sense acumen, astuteness, balance, brains*, caution, circumspection, clear thinking, comprehension, discernment, discrimination, enlightenment, erudition, experience, foresight, good judgment, gumption*, horse sense*,… …   New thesaurus

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