Savvy means having practical knowledge and good judgment about how things really work. When someone is tech-savvy, they understand how to use technology and how to solve problems when something goes wrong. A business-savvy entrepreneur knows how to spot opportunities, negotiate deals, and avoid costly mistakes.

The word suggests street-smarts combined with real experience. You might be book-smart about math but not yet savvy about managing your allowance wisely. Your grandmother might be savvy about spotting a good bargain at the store, while your older sister might be socially savvy, understanding how to navigate complicated friendships without creating drama.

Being savvy means you've learned the unwritten rules and hidden patterns that others might miss. A politically savvy student council member knows the official rules and also which teachers to ask for help and when to bring up new ideas. You develop savvy through experience, observation, and sometimes making mistakes and learning from them.

Used as a verb, to savvy something means to understand it, though this usage sounds a bit old-fashioned today: “Do you savvy what I'm saying?” Used as a noun, savvy means practical know-how: “She has a lot of computer savvy.”