BharatNotes Sagacious
adjectiveUsage in a UPSC answer
A sagacious administrator anticipates the second-order consequences of a welfare scheme, calibrating it to the fiscal capacity of the exchequer rather than yielding to the immediate temptation of populist largesse.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word Family
sagacity (n), sagaciously (adv), sagaciousness (n), sage (adj/n)
Root
Latin sagax / sagac- = wise, keen-perceiving (from sagire = to perceive keenly); -ious = adjectival suffix
Etymology
Early 17th century, from Latin sagax, sagac- 'wise, keen-perceiving' (related to sagire 'to perceive keenly') + the English suffix -ious.
Memory Hook
Think of a SAGE who is graCIOUS with advice: a "sage-acious" person dispenses keen, wise judgement. (Root: Latin sagire, "to perceive keenly" - the sagacious mind sniffs out the truth.)
How This Word Works in UPSC Writing
Showing sound judgement and foresight. It is a strong compliment, so in GS4 it belongs to decisions that anticipated a consequence others missed rather than to any competent choice. Because it claims wisdom rather than mere correctness, an answer using it should be able to say what was foreseen.
Don’t Confuse It With
Sagacious combines sound judgement with foresight. Astute is shrewd, with a hint of self-interest. Prudent judges well in the immediate circumstance. Erudite is learned, which concerns knowledge rather than judgement.
Hindi Meaning
दूरदर्शी (dūrdarshī) or बुद्धिमान (buddhimān).
Common Questions
- What does sagacious mean?
- Showing sound judgement together with foresight about how matters will develop.
- How is sagacious different from astute?
- Astute is shrewd and often self-interested. Sagacious implies wisdom and the ability to see further ahead.
Tip: press Alt+S to hear pronunciation
