savvy
/ˈsavi
/informal
noun [mass noun]
Shrewdness and practical knowledge; the ability to make good judgements: the corporate-finance bankers lacked the necessary political savvy...
- Without a college degree, this son of a single parent built a real estate empire with tremendous fortitude, business and political savvy, and a healthy dose of kismet.
- Jackson's political clout and business savvy made the deal happen.
- It takes business acumen, marketing savvy, graphic-arts talent, and a clear understanding of what the customer sees from the other side of the screen.
Synonyms
shrewdness, astuteness, sharp-wittedness, sharpness, acuteness, acumen, acuity, intelligence, wit, canniness, common sense, discernment, insight, understanding, penetration, perception, perceptiveness, perspicacity, perspicaciousness, knowledge, sagacity, sageness
informal nous, horse sense
rare sapience, arguteness
adjective (savvier, savviest)
1Shrewd and knowledgeable; having common sense and good judgement: Bob is a savvy veteran who knows all the tricks many of us pride ourselves on being savvy enough to spot a fake...
- I've had this question asked of me more than any other over the past couple of years - interestingly enough, mostly by industry veterans and savvy players who know the ropes.
- Many of our informants, from novice Internet users to tech savvy veterans, emphasized how important it is to have an easily navigable Web site.
- I had tried to be the woman I thought you wanted - a savvy street lawyer who fought tooth and nail for our clients - and still you rejected me.
Synonyms
shrewd, astute, sharp-witted, sharp, acute, intelligent, clever, canny, media-savvy, perceptive, perspicacious, sagacious, sage
informal on the ball, smart, streetwise
Scottish & Northern English informal pawky
North American informal heads-up, whip-smart
rare long-headed, sapient, argute
1.1 [in combination] Well informed about or experienced in a particular domain: most of us are pretty web-savvy—when an email arrives saying we need to enter our bank details, we don’t click these fashion-savvy consumers are not afraid of taking risks with little-known designers
verb (savvies, savvying, savvied) [with clause]
Know or understand: Tom would savvy what to do about her [no object]: I’ve been told, but I want to make sure. Savvy?...
- The country is ripped by people who savvy not its meaning.
Synonyms
realize, understand, comprehend, grasp, see, know, apprehend
informal get, get a fix on, catch on, latch on, cotton on
British informal twig, suss
Origin
Late 18th century: originally black and pidgin English imitating Spanish sabe usted 'you know'.