What does sharpness mean?
Sharpness is the quality of being sharp in one of several related senses. It may describe the pointed edge of a knife, the keen perception of an observant person, or the acuity of an analytical mind. In visual and auditory contexts, sharpness refers to crispness, definition, and precision. It can also characterize pain as intense or abrupt, and in economic or statistical language it describes a sudden, substantial change. The word is useful because it links a physical quality with mental and figurative forms of acuity. A sharp knife, sharp vision, a sharp argument, and a sharp increase all share an underlying implication of precision, intensity, or suddenness, although the precise meaning depends on the noun or phrase that follows it.
nounSharpness is the quality of being sharp, especially of a blade, image, sound, pain, mind, or change. It can also refer to keen perception, intellectual acuity, or a sudden and noticeable increase or change.
- The quality of having a sharp point or edge, especially of a blade or other tool.
- Keenness of perception, thought, observation, or reasoning.
- Intensity or abruptness of a sensation, especially pain.
- Crispness and clarity of an image, sound, or outline.
- A sudden and substantial increase or change in something, such as prices or demand.
"The sharpness of the knife made cutting the vegetables effortless."
"The sharpness of the morning air made her cheeks tingle."
"A good editor can distinguish between a merely sharp remark and one that is genuinely insightful."
"The photograph had a remarkable sharpness that revealed every detail of the bird's feathers."
Usually used in the singular; the plural is grammatically possible but uncommon.
"The photograph was praised for its sharpnesses in fine detail and contrast."
Sharpness describes more than a pointed blade: it can make a photograph vivid, a mind perceptive, a pain intense, or a change sudden.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does sharpness come from?
Sharpness derives from the Old English adjective scearp, meaning “bright, keen, pointed, or intelligent.” The related verb sharpen developed from the sense of making or becoming sharp and later came to mean “to improve” or “to intensify.” The suffix -ness is an Old English-derived word-forming element that forms nouns indicating a quality or state.
Related word forms
How sharpness is actually used
The meaning varies with context. In descriptions of images or sounds, it suggests crispness and clarity; in discussion of the mind, it suggests acuity; in economics, it is often used formally for a rapid increase, as in “a sharp rise in prices.”