dictionary definition of critical thinking

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critical thinking

Definition of critical thinking

Examples of critical thinking in a sentence, word history.

1815, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Dictionary Entries Near critical thinking

critical temperature

critical value

Cite this Entry

“Critical thinking.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/critical%20thinking. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.

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Meaning of critical thinking in English

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• adjudication
• interpretable
• interpretive
• interpretively
• reinterpretation
• reinvestigate
• reinvestigation
• risk assessment

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having no fear

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critical thinking noun

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What does the noun critical thinking mean?

There is one meaning in OED's entry for the noun critical thinking . See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.

How common is the noun critical thinking ?

Where does the noun critical thinking come from.

Earliest known use

The earliest known use of the noun critical thinking is in the 1810s.

OED's earliest evidence for critical thinking is from 1815, in Critical Review .

Nearby entries

• critical pressure, n. 1878–
• critical race theory, n. 1989–
• critical rationalism, n. 1945–
• critical region, n. 1933–
• critical size, n. 1940–
• critical state, n. 1871–
• critical temperature, n. 1870–
• critical text, n. 1795–
• critical theorist, n. 1753–
• critical theory, n. 1799–
• critical thinking, n. 1815–
• critical volume, n. 1878–
• criticaster, n. 1669–
• criticasterism, n. 1805–
• criticastry, n. 1887–
• criticiasis, n. 1874
• criticism, n. 1606–
• criticist, n. & adj. 1838–
• criticizable, adj. 1751–
• criticize, v. 1621–
• criticizer, n. a1680–

Meaning & use

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Entry history for critical thinking, n.

Originally published as part of the entry for critical, adj. & n.

critical thinking, n. was first published in 2018.

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Citation details

Factsheet for critical thinking, n., browse entry.

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Definition of critical thinking noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

critical thinking

• The school encourages critical thinking and problem-solving.
• Students are encouraged to develop critical thinking instead of accepting opinions without questioning them.
• The book shows you how to apply critical thinking to your studies.
• Critical thinking skills enable students to evaluate information.

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