savvy
Shrewdness and practical knowledge; the ability to make good judgments.
Savvy implies a very modern, practical, and street-smart intelligence. It is often paired with a specific domain (e.g., tech-savvy, media-savvy) to show that someone understands the unwritten rules and trends of that world.
Word relationships
- shrewdness: Shrewdness has a slightly sharper, sometimes calculating edge, while savvy emphasizes practical, up-to-date knowledge.
- know-how: Know-how is more focused on mechanical or technical practical skill, whereas savvy includes social and strategic intelligence.
- naive: Naive implies a lack of worldly experience and a tendency to trust too easily.
- gullible: Gullible means easily persuaded to believe something, showing a lack of critical judgment.
Commonly confused with
- salty: Salty is slang for being irritated or bitter, whereas savvy means shrewd and knowledgeable.
Word family
- savviness (noun): The quality of being savvy; shrewdness.
- savvily (adverb): In a shrewd and practical manner.
Collocations
- tech-savvy
- business savvy
- media-savvy
- political savvy
Example sentences
- "Today's savvy shoppers compare prices online before ever stepping foot inside a physical store." Describing a modern consumer.
- "He lacked the political savvy required to survive the executive boardroom shakeup." Describing corporate survival skills.
Memory hook
Think of Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean constantly asking, 'Savvy?' He is the ultimate example of a clever, street-smart survivor. Savvy? Do you know the way of the world?
When not to use
Avoid using 'savvy' in highly formal academic papers or legal documents, as it carries a slightly informal, conversational tone.
Fun facts
- Savvy is one of the very few words in English that can function as a noun ('she has savvy'), an adjective ('a savvy investor'), and a verb ('do you savvy?').
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