perspicacity

/ˌpɜːspɪˈkæsəti/

noun

  1. The ability to notice, understand, and judge things accurately, especially things that are not obvious or that others miss.

    C1

    uncountableformal

    • "Her perspicacity allowed her to spot the flaw in the plan immediately."B2
    • "The detective's perspicacity impressed everyone on the case."C1
    • "The critic praised the author's perspicacity in capturing subtle social details."C2

Common mistakes

  • perspicuity→perspicacity

    Perspicuity means clarity (of style); perspicacity means keen insight or shrewdness.

Collocations

keen perspicacityremarkable perspicacitypolitical perspicacitygreat perspicacitywith perspicacityshow perspicacitylack perspicacity

Word family

perspicaciousperspicaciouslyperspicuityperspicuous