Astute
adjectiveHaving or showing sharp, perceptive judgement, especially in practical or financial matters.
How to spell astute
6 letters · 2 syllables
How to pronounce astute
Say the part in capitals loudest.
What does astute mean?
- adjectiveHaving or showing sharp, perceptive judgement, especially in practical or financial matters.
Astute in a sentence
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Her astute analysis of the market saved the firm from a costly mistake.
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An astute investor noticed the company was undervalued long before others did.
Where does astute come from?
Language of origin: Latin
The word comes from the Latin astutus, meaning 'shrewd' or 'crafty', which was built directly on the noun astus, literally 'craft' or 'cunning'. In its earliest Latin sense the idea leaned toward sly, even disreputable cleverness, the kind of wits a trickster might use. English adopted it in the early 1600s, and over time the negative edge softened so that today it praises someone for sharp, perceptive judgement rather than slyness. The spelling stays close to the Latin root, with the single 't' before the '-ute' ending, which is the small detail writers should hold on to. A useful memory hook is that astute keeps the same 'astut-' core as the original Latin, so there is no hidden double letter or silent trap to worry about.
How the word is built
- astut- (from Latin astus: craft, cunning)
- -e
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