Savvy
noun / adjective /ˈsæv.i/ — Practical knowledge and shrewdness
Definition
Practical understanding and good judgment in navigating complex situations — street intelligence combined with domain expertise.
Beyond the definition
The knowledge that comes from paying attention in the real world, not in textbooks. Savvy is hard to fake because it's earned.
Origin & history
From Spanish and Portuguese 'sabe' (he/she knows), from 'saber' (to know). Used in 18th-century pidgin English. Savvy is knowledge made practical.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
Her political savvy meant she knew which battles to pick and which to walk away from.
He had the media savvy to understand that the most powerful statement was no statement at all.
Savvy is not intelligence — it is intelligence deployed effectively in the world as it is.
How to use it
Follow this entry’s examples for grammatical form and sentence placement.
Choose “Savvy” when the meaning fits your context: Practical understanding and good judgment in navigating complex situations — street intelligence combined with domain expertise.
Synonyms
shrewdness, acumen, street-smarts, know-how, pragmatism
Antonyms
naivety, unworldliness, inexperience
Related words
Questions about this word
What does "Savvy" mean?
Savvy is noun / adjective meaning: Practical knowledge and shrewdness. Practical understanding and good judgment in navigating complex situations — street intelligence combined with domain expertise.
Where does the word "Savvy" come from?
From Spanish and Portuguese 'sabe' (he/she knows), from 'saber' (to know). Used in 18th-century pidgin English. Savvy is knowledge made practical.