knowledge

[nol-ij]

noun

1. acquaintance with facts, truths, or principles, as from study or investigation; general erudition.

   knowledge of many things.

2. familiarity or conversance, as with a particular subject or branch of learning.

   A knowledge of accounting was necessary for the job.

3. acquaintance or familiarity gained by sight, experience, or report.

   a knowledge of human nature.

4. the fact or state of knowing; the perception of fact or truth; clear and certain mental apprehension.

   Synonyms: scholarship, erudition, comprehension, discernment, understanding

5. awareness, as of a fact or circumstance.

   He had knowledge of her good fortune.

6. something that is or may be known; information.

   He sought knowledge of her activities.

7. the body of truths or facts accumulated in the course of time.

8. the sum of what is known.

   Knowledge of the true situation is limited.

9. Archaic.,  sexual intercourse.

adjective

1. creating, involving, using, or disseminating special knowledge or information.

   A computer expert can always find a good job in the knowledge industry.

knowledge

/ ˈnɒlɪdʒ /

noun

1. the facts, feelings or experiences known by a person or group of people

2. the state of knowing

3. awareness, consciousness, or familiarity gained by experience or learning

4. erudition or informed learning

5. specific information about a subject

6. sexual intercourse (obsolete except in the legal phrase carnal knowledge )

7. to become known to one

8. 1. as I understand it

   2. as I know

9. to behave in a presumptuous or conceited manner

Other Word Forms

• knowledgeless adjective
• preknowledge noun
• superknowledge noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of knowledge¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English knouleche, equivalent to know(en) “to know” + -leche, perhaps akin to Old English -lāc suffix denoting action or practice, cognate with Old Norse (-)leikr; know ¹; wedlock

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. to one's knowledge, according to the information available to one.

   To my knowledge he hasn't been here before.

see little knowledge is a dangerous thing; to the best of (one's knowledge).

Synonym Study

See information.

Example Sentences

Sources with knowledge of the investigation who were not authorized to speak publicly told The Times that the Lachman fire appeared to have been sparked by fireworks.

From Los Angeles Times

By understanding how the rigidity of asteroids' interior structure relates to their rotation, it's possible to use that knowledge to infer the internal properties of the asteroids.

From Science Daily

The quantum interactions involved are very complex and require advanced understanding of how loop currents, quantum geometry, and magnetic fields work together -- knowledge that has only developed in recent years.

From Science Daily

Another factor driving the trend is the combined pressure from anxious parents and gaps in medical knowledge.

From BBC

"If I was going to Costa Rica, or central America, for security reasons - you need the destination knowledge from someone who knows somewhere inside out."

From BBC

Related Words

• ability 
• awareness 
• education 
• expertise 
• familiarity 
• grasp 
• insight 
• intelligence 
• judgment 
• know-how 
• learning 
• observation 
• philosophy 
• power 
• proficiency 
• recognition 
• science 
• theory 
• wisdom