# wisdom

/ˈwɪzdəm/ (US) · /wˈɪsdəm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/wisdom
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. good judgment

noun · CEFR B2

the ability to use your knowledge and experience to make sensible decisions and judgments.

For teachers: the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment. Uncountable in this abstract sense.

- He had the wisdom to stop the argument before it got out of control.
- The elder's wisdom was sought by the entire community, as she possessed a rare ability to balance historical precedent with modern necessity.

### 2. wise advice

noun · CEFR B2

a specific piece of advice or a wise saying.

For teachers: a specific instance of wise advice or a profound teaching. Countable in this usage.

- My grandfather shared his pearls of wisdom with me before I left for college.
- The book is a collection of ancient wisdoms that have been passed down through oral traditions for centuries.

### 3. accepted opinion

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

the ideas or beliefs that most people in a particular group accept as true.

For teachers: the body of knowledge or principles generally accepted by a group or society, often used in the phrase 'conventional wisdom'.

- Conventional wisdom says that you should save ten percent of your income.
- The researcher challenged the conventional wisdom of the department, arguing that the data actually pointed toward a much more complex conclusion.

### 4. spiritual truth

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the ability to understand and follow deep spiritual or religious truths.

For teachers: the capacity to perceive and apply spiritual or transcendent truths. Often used in theological or philosophical contexts.

- The monk spent years in silence seeking divine wisdom.
- The text explores the intersection of human reason and divine wisdom, questioning whether the latter can ever be fully grasped by the former.

### 5. wisdom tooth

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a short way of saying 'wisdom tooth'.

For teachers: a colloquial ellipsis for 'wisdom tooth', referring to the third molar. Typically used in the plural.

- I have to go to the dentist to get my wisdoms pulled next week.
- After the X-ray, the surgeon confirmed that all four wisdoms were impacted and would require immediate extraction.

## Examples

- My grandfather shared his wisdom with me.
- After years of running the business, she had the wisdom to know when to take a risk and when to hold back.
- The ancient philosophers argued that true wisdom lies not merely in accumulating facts, but in understanding the fundamental nature of reality and one's place within it.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.