Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

acuity

/əˈkjuːɪti/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 2.81 in modern English

Syllables: acu-ity
IPA: /əˈkjuːɪti/

11

Scrabble Score

6

Letters

4

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Sharpness or acuteness, as of a needle, wit, etc.

noun

The ability to think, see, or hear clearly.

Example Sentences

"The old woman with dementia lost her mental acuity."
"And yet [Ray] Dalio’s acuity prompts an awkward question: how much of Bridgewater’s success comes not from the way it is organized, or any notion of “radical transparency,” but from the boss’s raw investment abilities?"
"Donald Trump’s frequently bizarre public appearances[…] have once again raised questions about his mental acuity, experts say. […] During his presidency, Joe Biden was subjected to intense speculation over his mental acuity – including from Trump."

Etymology

From Middle English acuite, acuyte, from Middle French acuité, from Medieval Latin acuitas, irreg., from Latin acuō (“sharpen”).

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: acuite, acuité, acuitas, acuō, *h₂eḱ-

Inflected Forms

acuities (plural)

Derived Forms

hyperacuity stereoacuity

Phrases

visual acuity

Frequently Paired Words

acute acutance acuteness acuition

Synonyms

wisdom acuteness sharpness keenness visual acuity sharp-sightedness

Rhymes With

continuity ambiguity annuity promiscuity congruity

Questions

How do you pronounce acuity?: The recorded pronunciation is /əˈkjuːɪti/.
What does acuity mean?: Sharpness or acuteness, as of a needle, wit, etc.
Where does acuity come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce acuity

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “acuity”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/əˈkjuːɪti/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “acuity”.
Repeat and practice — Say “acuity” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.