Definitions of Wisdom

Here are several definitions of wisdom and my comments on those definitions. I'll keep adding to this post as I consider more and more definitions.

Wisdom is the ability or result of an ability to think and act utilizing knowledge, experience, understanding, common sense, and insight
From the Collins English Dictionary

I really like this definition. Wisdom is defined as an ability. It also includes both thinking and acting. Thought without action is useless. It's the action in life that gets results not just making a decision or thinking. "Yeah, I thought about doing the right thing, but I just never did anything about it". Heard that before? Action without thinking...there's a lot of that going around these days, and that's where we see the need for wisdom. Its the thinking and the action combined.

Next the definition tells us that wisdom happens when we utilize knowledge, experience, understanding, common sense and insight. Good stuff.


The ability to discern or judge what is true, right, or lasting; insight.
American Heritage Dictionary

This definition isn't bad. It adds some key concepts into the meaning of wisdom. Discernment or the ability to judge what is true, right, or lasting. And there is that word "insight" again.