perspicacious
/ˌpɜː.spɪˈkeɪ.ʃəs/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
Having a clear and quick understanding of people, ideas, or situations. A perspicacious person notices important details and sees what others may miss.
- She gave a perspicacious answer in the meeting.
- His perspicacious comments helped us solve the problem.
- The judge was known for her perspicacious mind.
Adinary Nuance
Perspicacious is more formal and literary than smart or intelligent. It suggests sharp insight, not just general ability. Compared with perceptive, it often sounds a little more bookish and impressive. Writers use it when they want to praise deep, clear judgment.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- sáng suốt
- Spanish
- perspicaz
- Chinese
- 有洞察力的
- Japanese
- 洞察力のある
- Korean
- 통찰력 있는
Etymology
Perspicacious comes from Latin perspicere, meaning 'to look through' or 'see clearly'. It entered English in the 17th century.
Common phrases
a perspicacious commenta perspicacious observerperspicacious insightperspicacious analysis
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is perspicacious formal or informal?
- It is formal and somewhat literary. People use it more in writing than in casual speech.
- What is the difference between perspicacious and perceptive?
- Both mean able to notice and understand well. Perspicacious sounds more formal and more impressive.
- Can I use perspicacious for a person?
- Yes. It usually describes a person, mind, comment, or observation.
- Is perspicacious a common word?
- No, it is uncommon. Most learners use perceptive, insightful, or astute instead.