solomon

solomon — noun

1. a person who is exceptionally wise and able to give fair, sensible advice or mak

1.nounC2
Definition

a person who is exceptionally wise and able to give fair, sensible advice or make difficult decisions fairly — the name comes from the biblical king Solomon, famous for his wisdom.

Example

The older villagers treated Hiroko as a solomon whenever a land dispute arose.

a solomon — used like a common noun for a wise advisor

In traditional medicine, Dr. Okafor was a solomon whose judgment no one questioned.

regarded as a solomon — passive construction

Common collocations
  • a solomon of (finance / law / local customs)
  • regarded as a solomon
  • considered a solomon
  • speak like a solomon
  • a solomon in matters of (justice / diplomacy / family disputes)
Synonyms
  • sage

    more general, can describe any wise person; solomon carries the biblical allusion

  • oracle

    suggests prophetic or mysterious insight; solomon implies practical, fair judgment

  • wise person

    neutral and everyday; lacks the literary weight of solomon

Antonyms
  • fool

    someone who lacks good judgment entirely

Grammar Patterns

a solomon

a solomon of [domain]

a solomon in [field]

Usage Note

Almost always used as a simile or metaphor — 'a solomon', 'like a solomon', 'regarded as a solomon'. The word is not used in everyday conversation; it appears in literary, rhetorical, or admiring contexts. Writers sometimes capitalise it ('a Solomon'), but the lowercase form is established in dictionaries.

Common Mistakes

My teacher is a solomon in maths.
My teacher is a solomon when it comes to mathematics.
The 'solomon' metaphor sounds unnatural with short subjects like 'maths'; pair it with a broader domain or a situation requiring judgment.
He was a solomon who fixed my computer.
He was a solomon when it came to diagnosing computer problems.
The word implies deep wisdom and fair judgment, not technical repair skills.

Word family

  • solomonic
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All three synonyms describe someone with superior understanding, but 'solomon' is unique in implying practical, fair, and decisive judgment — not just knowledge. A 'sage' is a profoundly wise person, often older and philosophical (e.g., 'the village sage who taught meditation'). An 'oracle' has a mystical or prophetic quality — their wisdom feels almost supernatural ('the oracle of the stock market'). A 'wise person' is the plain, everyday term that carries no stylistic weight. 'Solomon' sits between 'sage' and 'oracle' in formality but adds the specific nuance of resolving disputes with fairness, rooted in the biblical story of King Solomon who proposed dividing a baby to uncover the true mother. Use 'solomon' when you want to praise someone's ability to make the right call in a difficult situation — for example, 'In the boardroom, she was a solomon who could settle any argument.'

sage ↗oraclewise person

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • a solomon of
  • regarded as a solomon
  • like a solomon

Prepositions

Etymology

HebrewGreekLatinFrenchEnglish

From Solomon, the biblical king of Israel (10th century BCE), whose legendary wisdom is recounted in the Old Testament — most famously the story where he resolved a custody dispute between two women by threatening to cut a baby in half. By the 14th century, English writers began using 'a Solomon' as a common noun for any exceptionally wise person. The lowercase form 'solomon' is a modern lexicographical convention treating the name as an established common noun.