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.
Synonyms
shrewdness, acumen, street-smarts, know-how, pragmatism
Antonyms
naivety, unworldliness, inexperience
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Negotiation at produce stall
Two adults negotiate at a small produce market stall with a balance scale, a basket of apples, and coins.
The negotiation shows the savvy required to navigate a practical, social exchange. Both participants demonstrate a domain-specific understanding of value and supply, maneuvering their interaction with the street intelligence needed to reach a successful, fair trade.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration