conventional wisdom

noun

: the generally accepted belief, opinion, judgment, or prediction about a particular matter

Examples of conventional wisdom in a Sentence

Conventional wisdom in Hollywood says that a movie can't succeed unless it stars a famous actor or actress.
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Contrary to conventional wisdom, 2024 is not the first time it's been like this. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024 Lukas Reichel has played on the fourth line and, contrary to conventional wisdom, thrived in that role. Phil Thompson, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2024 And mainstream media outlets tend to seek out former government officials for commentary, creating an echo chamber that reinforces conventional wisdom. Christopher S. Chivvis, Foreign Affairs, 14 Oct. 2024 The smug conventional wisdom has it that voters don’t care much about abstractions like democracy or the rule of law. Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for conventional wisdom 

Word History

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of conventional wisdom was in 1838

Dictionary Entries Near conventional wisdom

Cite this Entry

“Conventional wisdom.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conventional%20wisdom. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.

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