What term describes a reliable judgment developed through experience and lessons learned?

The term that best describes a reliable judgment developed through experience and lessons learned is "rule of thumb." A rule of thumb is a general principle derived from practice rather than a strict rule, allowing individuals to make quick and practical decisions based on past experiences. This term emphasizes the value of accumulated knowledge and practical wisdom in guiding actions and decisions, particularly in situations where exact measurements or data may not be available.

While a cue refers to a signal or prompt that may guide behavior or actions, it does not necessarily encapsulate the idea of judgment based on experience. Similarly, a principle is more about a fundamental truth or proposition, which may not directly imply experiential learning. Lastly, a hypothesis is an educated guess or prediction that typically requires testing and does not inherently denote reliability developed over time through experience. Thus, the most fitting term for reliable judgment rooted in experience and lessons learned is rule of thumb.