Perspicacity
(pronounced puhr-spih-kas-ih-tee) noun
Definition
from the adjective perspicacious.
Perspicacious (pronounced puhr-spih-kay-shus) = having keen mental vision or discernment; penetrating; having ability to see into and understand what is confusing or not readily apparent.
Main Example
- To combat global warming, most of the big polluters such as the U.S. and China are having to struggle with how to make their electricity generation less dependent on fossil fuels. In this regard, France is sitting pretty! Thanks to the farsightedness and perspicacity of French planners in past decades, over 80% of France's electricity generated today is from nuclear power--a non-carbon-emitting source!
Workplace Examples
- I'm not surprised that the New Jersey company has agreed to buy our Toledo plant despite its history of production problems. Their CEO, Mel, probably realizes that, while in the near term, the acquisition could be a pain in the neck, it'll be a big strategic advantage over the long term. Mel is known for his extraordinary courage, and perspicacity!
- There's hardly a day when I don't compliment myself for hiring Stella into our organization. You must have noticed how, during our weekly staff meetings, some of the most brilliant, and perspicacious, comments always seem to come from her.
Other Examples
- somebody attributing his business success to the perspicacity of his advisors; some Wall Street analysts who covered Enron getting a failing grade for not being questioning and perspicacious enough and, instead, becoming "partners" in the selling of that company's hype
- pointing to a seemingly insignificant artifact from Mesopotamia--an artifact which was discovered in the nineteenth century and is only now beginning to yield important clues to that civilization--an archaeologist saying: "The world is so lucky that the person who found it had the perspicacity and interest to preserve it for future generations and not throw it away."
- two former presidential cabinet members who are renowned for their perspicacity on foreign policy matters and are, therefore, prized guests on television: Henry Kissinger and Zbigniew Brzezinski
- the perspicacious Warren Buffet--one investor who has attained rock star status--consistently displaying farsightedness and unusual perspicacity in the running of his company, Berkshire Hathaway
