discernment
Other forms: discernments
Discernment is the ability to make a smart judgment about something. If you're voting for Student Council President, you need to use discernment to pick the best candidate.
The noun discernment describes a wise way of judging between things, or a particularly perceptive way of seeing things. If you can understand something that's somewhat hidden or obscure — if you figure out the themes of a confusing movie, for example — you're using discernment. It comes from the Latin word discernere, meaning "separate." Discernment separates what's important or true from what's not.
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the cognitive condition of someone who understandssynonyms: apprehension, savvy, understandingtypes:comprehensionan ability to understand the meaning or importance of something (or the knowledge acquired as a result)self-knowledgean understanding of yourself and your goals and abilitiessmatteringa slight or superficial understanding of a subjectappreciation, grasp, holdunderstanding of the nature or meaning or quality or magnitude of somethinggraspingunderstanding with difficultyhindsightunderstanding the nature of an event after it has happenedsensea natural appreciation or abilitylightmental understanding as an enlightening experiencerevelationan enlightening or astonishing disclosureflasha sudden brilliant understandingtype of:knowinga clear and certain mental apprehension
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the mental ability to understand and discriminate between relationssynonyms: judgement, judgment, sagaciousness, sagacitytypes:eyegood discernment (either visually or as if visually)judiciousnessgood judgmentlogicreasoned and reasonable judgmentnouscommon senseroad sensegood judgment in avoiding trouble or accidents on the roadconfidentialitydiscretion in keeping secret information
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the trait of judging wisely and objectively“a man of discernment”synonyms: discretiontypes:prudencediscretion in practical affairsprecautionthe trait of practicing caution in advanceprovidencethe prudence and care exercised by someone in the management of resources
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delicate discrimination (especially of aesthetic values)synonyms: appreciation, perceptiveness, tastetypes:culturethe tastes in art and manners that are favored by a social groupNew Looka style of women's clothing created by Christian Dior in 1947; involved a tight bodice and narrow waist and a flowing pleated skirtfashionthe latest and most admired style in clothes and cosmetics and behaviorbandwagona popular trend that attracts growing supportcounterculturea culture with lifestyles and values opposed to those of the established culturemass culturethe culture that is widely disseminated via the mass medialettersthe literary culturepop culture, popular culturethe art, media, and ideas preferred by ordinary people, rather than the educated elitetype of:
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perception of that which is obscuresynonyms: perceptivenesstype of:perceptionknowledge gained by perceiving
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Vocabulary lists containing discernment
In this groundbreaking novel, Dr. Victor Frankenstein works feverishly to bring an inanimate creature to life — but when he finally succeeds, he is horrified by what he has unleashed.
Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy instantly loathe one another when they first meet. Can they overcome their first impressions?
Kambili and Jaja's life among the elite in Nigeria isn't so easy under the thumb of their oppressive father. When the country becomes mired in political turmoil, they are sent to stay with their aunt, where they learn a different way of life.