nous

nous — noun

1. the ability to make sensible decisions and take practical action in real-life si

1.nounC1
Definition

the ability to make sensible decisions and take practical action in real-life situations, relying on experience and instinct rather than formal knowledge.

Example

Feng had the nous to check the tyre pressure before driving across the desert.

have + the + nous + to-infinitive

It takes political nous to know when to stay silent during a negotiation.

typical modifier: political nous

Common collocations
  • have (the) nous
  • enough nous
  • business / political / social nous
  • show / display nous
  • sharp / real / basic nous
Synonyms
  • common sense

    More widely understood; less intellectual and more everyday than 'nous'.

  • savvy

    Informal, slightly more modern and American-leaning; often used for consumer or digital contexts.

  • acumen

    More formal and specific, typically applied to business, finance, or politics rather than general life situations.

Antonyms
  • foolishness

    Direct opposite — acting without good sense.

  • naivety

    Lack of practical experience or worldly judgment.

Usage Note

Primarily British English, used in informal or conversational contexts. Uncountable — cannot be used as 'a nous' or 'nouses'. Often modified by adjectives such as 'political', 'business', 'basic', or 'sharp'.

Common Mistakes

She has a good nous for business.
She has good business nous.
'nous' is uncountable and does not take an article.
The project needs more nouses like his.
The project needs more people with his level of nous.
'nous' has no plural form.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Common sense' is the broadest term, referring to sound practical judgment that most people are expected to have — it implies nothing special, just baseline good sense. 'Savvy' adds a layer of sharp, up-to-date know-how, especially in commercial or digital domains ('tech savvy', 'savvy shopper'). 'Acumen' is more formal and narrower, typically describing trained skill in a specific field such as business or law. 'Wisdom' is far broader, involving deep life experience, moral judgment, and long-term perspective — 'nous' is quicker, more instinctive. For example: hiring a candidate may take business acumen, but knowing not to schedule a meeting on a religious holiday takes basic nous.

common sensesavvy ↗acumenwisdom ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • have the nous to [do something]
  • enough nous to [do something]

Etymology

GreekEnglish

Borrowed directly from ancient Greek νοῦς (nous), meaning 'mind, intellect, insight'. In Greek philosophy, nous referred to the highest faculty of rational thought — the part of the mind that grasps eternal truths. Over centuries, the word filtered into British English via philosophical and theological writings and gradually lost its grand meaning, settling into a colloquial term for everyday practical sense and cleverness.