Perspicacious
Having keen mental perception; acutely insightful and able to understand difficult concepts quickly.
adjectivePerspicacious
Having keen mental perception; acutely insightful and able to understand difficult concepts quickly.
adjectiveImagine This
Picture a sharp-eyed detective examining a cluttered crime scene. While others miss the thread, she instantly connects subtle clues to reveal the true culprit.
Sounds Like
per-spi-KAY-shuhs
Looks Like
Root perspic- from Latin perspicax; resembles related words like perspective and perspicacity that also involve seeing or understanding.
Remember This
Perspicacity is the noun form; perspicacious is the corresponding adjective. The root comes from Latin perspicax meaning keen-sighted, from perspicere 'to look through'.
Other Forms
Note
Used in formal or literary contexts; not common in everyday speech. Do not confuse with 'perspective' or 'perspicuity'—though related, perspicacity emphasizes quick insight, not just clarity of expression.