savvy
/ˈsæv.i/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: savvier · savviest · savvies · savvying
Sense 1
Meaning · English
Shrewd, well-informed and perceptive.
AdjectiveRegister: informal
Examples
That such a safe adaptation could come of The Hunger Games speaks more to the trilogy’s commercial ascent than the book’s actual content, which is audacious and savvy in its dark calculations.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
To understand.
VerbRegister: informal
Examples
He's probably a perfect technician as a surgeon, but he knows you get only what you grab. Think of the years it's taken me to learn what he savvied all the time!
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 3
Meaning · English
Shrewdness.
NounRegister: informal
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “savvy” mean?
Shrewd, well-informed and perceptive.
Is “savvy” formal or informal?
savvy is generally informal.