Words / C2

NOWS/naʊs/

Nous in UK English is practical intelligence; gumption: political nous, no nous at all. Sense and intelligence (already in the dictionary) are everyday. In philosophy, nous (/nuːs/) is intellect — a different pronunciation and register. Do not praise nous that skips the embargo.

Meaning

Practical intelligence; common sense (UK).

Examples

• “It took little nous to see that one CSV in a bin is not a backup.”
• “Common sense is the gloss. Intelligence is wider (already in the dictionary). Gumption is informal grit-and-sense. Philosophy nous is /nuːs/. Clever copy is not nous if the only file is in the bin. Backup first; then the slogan.”

Good to know

Practical sense (UK, /naʊs/). Everyday: common sense. Philosophy: intellect (/nuːs/). Cleverness ≠ a backup.

Near in meaning

sense

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