savvy

1 of 3

adjective

sav·​vy ˈsa-vē 

savvier; savviest

: having or showing perception, comprehension, or shrewdness especially in practical matters

savvily adverb

savviness noun

savvy

2 of 3

noun

: practical know-how

political savvy

savvy

3 of 3

verb

savvied; savvying

: understand

Did you know?

While the noun savvy, meaning "practical know-how" (as in "her political savvy"), and the adjective use (as in "a savvy investor") are more common, the verb savvy is the oldest of the trio. (If you associate it with Captain Jack Sparrow of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, you'll be pleased to know his use—as in, "I'm Captain Jack Sparrow. Savvy?"—is not anachronistic; the verb was the only savvy option extant in the movies' early 18th-century setting.) Current evidence dates the verb savvy to the late 17th century, when English speakers altered a word—sabi, meaning "know"—they were hearing in English-based creoles and pidgins (a pidgin is a simplified language or dialect that speakers of different languages use to communicate with one another; a creole is a language that evolves from a pidgin to become a native language for a speech community). Sabi has its roots in Portuguese sabe, meaning "he knows," and it ultimately comes from Latin sapere, meaning "to be wise."

Synonyms

Adjective

• astute
• canny
• clear-eyed
• clear-sighted
• hard-boiled
• hardheaded
• heady
• knowing
• sharp
• sharp-witted
• shrewd
• smart

Noun

• chops
• experience
• expertise
• know-how
• moxie
• proficiency
• skills

Verb

• appreciate
• apprehend
• assimilate
• behold
• catch
• catch on (to)
• cognize
• compass
• comprehend
• conceive
• cotton (to or on to)
• decipher
• decode
• dig
• discern
• get
• grasp
• grok
• intuit
• know
• make
• make out
• perceive
• recognize
• register
• see
• seize
• sense
• tumble (to)
• twig
• understand

Examples of savvy in a Sentence

Adjective

She's a very savvy investor.

He is savvy about computers.

Noun

she's an excellent scholar of political science, but lacks the kind of savvy needed to run for public office

Verb

the man growled, “Don't ever date my daughter again—you savvy?”

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Without question, savvy bucks learn how to detect danger within their environment. —Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 22 Nov. 2024

Its savvy advertising often featured armadillos, and in Austin the brand is still associated with the Armadillo World Headquarters and the concert posters from that era. —Michael Barnes, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024

Noun

Tech’s money and emerging political savvy mean that its interests—crypto, the sharing economy, ungoverned social media—are here to stay. —Charles Duhigg, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024

The Podcaster Division: Dozens of our favorite culture-podcast hosts and producers are competing in a subset of the MFL to prove who has the superior awards-season expertise, box-office clairvoyance, and drafting savvy. —Vulture Editors, Vulture, 12 Sep. 2024

Verb

Comprised of side-by-side snapshots of high-fashion runways and Barbie doll outfits, the book takes a closer look at just how style savvy your favorite doll has always been. —Hedy Phillips, Peoplemag, 15 Aug. 2023

The Giants were knocked coming into the season for having the oldest roster in baseball, but as their remarkable season unfurled and the veterans flourished, the narrative shifted to admiration for the leadership and savvy the older players provided. —Susan Slusser, San Francisco Chronicle, 15 Oct. 2021

Word History

Etymology

Verb

alteration of sabi know (in English-based creoles and pidgins), from Portuguese sabe he knows, from saber to know, from Latin sapere to be wise — more at sage

First Known Use

Adjective

1826, in the meaning defined above

Noun

circa 1785, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1686, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

savvy

1 of 3 verb

sav·​vy ˈsav-ē 

savvied; savvying

: comprehend sense 1, understand

savvy

2 of 3 noun

: useful understanding : shrewdness

savvy

3 of 3 adjective

savvier; savviest

: having a practical understanding or knowledge of something

a savvy stock market investor