Word of the day · 3 September 2026
sagacious
/səˈɡeɪʃəs/
adjective
Having keen judgment and practical wisdom.
In a sentence
- A sagacious editor cut the paragraph that would have caused trouble.
- Her sagacious advice saved the team a costly redesign.
- Investors called the quiet sale a sagacious move before the crash.
In an image
Origin
From Latin sagax (wise, keen-scented), related to sagire (to perceive keenly).
History
English took sagacious in the early 1600s for sharp understanding, not only book learning. It often described leaders, judges and animals credited with keen sense. The root ties wisdom to acute perception, which is why the word still suggests insight rather than mere cleverness. It remains useful when smart feels too thin.
Nearby words
astute · prudent · discerning
A compliment for people who see the wise move early.