polymath

[ pol-ee-math ]

noun

1. a person of great learning in several fields of study; polyhistor.

polymath

/ ˈpɒlɪˌmæθ; pəˈlɪməθɪ /

noun

1. a person of great and varied learning

Derived Forms

• polymathy, noun
• ˌpolyˈmathic, adjective

Other Word Forms

• poly·mathic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of polymath¹

1615–25; < Greek polymathḗs learned, having learned much, equivalent to poly- poly- + -mathēs, adj. derivative of manthánein to learn

Word History and Origins

Origin of polymath¹

C17: from Greek polumathēs having much knowledge

Example Sentences

After leaving the military, Burkle became a medical polymath, qualified in five different specialties he felt would be necessary: emergency medicine, pediatrics, adolescent medicine, public health and psychiatry.

From Salon

The ultimate perfectionist filmmaker, Stanley Kubrick, had the help of a tireless polymath assistant.

From New York Times

The authors advocate for nurturing AI-enabled polymaths to bridge the gap between theoretical advancements and practical applications, driving progress toward artificial general intelligence.

From Science Daily

For his first non-American subject, documentary filmmaker Ken Burns chose Renaissance polymath Leonardo da Vinci.

From Los Angeles Times

The Florentine Renaissance artist, engineer and polymath made the most famous picture of all time, a painted poplar panel that hangs in virtual isolation in the Salle des États at Paris’ Louvre Museum.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• accomplished
• educated
• scholarly
• scientific
• studied
• well-educated