noun

acumen

/əˈkjuːmən/ · say it: uh·KYOO·muhn

keen insight and good judgment

In Formal & Academic

In more detail

the ability to understand things quickly and to make good judgments; keen insight or shrewdness in a particular area

Examples

Her business acumen helped the company become very profitable.
He showed great political acumen in negotiating the deal.

How to use acumen

Acumen refers to the ability to judge situations keenly and make sound decisions, typically within a specific domain like business or politics. It emphasizes both quick understanding and practical wisdom, often suggesting natural talent or developed expertise. Unlike 'intelligence' (which is broader), acumen is domain-specific and judgment-focused.

Common phrases

business acumen
political acumen
demonstrate acumen
lack acumen
keen acumen

Synonyms

shrewdness · insight · perception · discernment · astuteness

Opposites

obtuseness · dullness

Word family

acumen (noun)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes use acumen as a verb (e.g., 'to acumen') when it is only a noun; they may also mispronounce it as 'ACK-u-men' rather than the correct 'uh-KYOO-men'.

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