Renaissance man

American  

noun

1. a cultured man of the Renaissance who was knowledgeable, educated, or proficient in a wide range of fields.

2. (sometimes lowercase) a present-day man who has acquired profound knowledge or proficiency in more than one field.

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Renaissance man British  

noun

1. a man of any period who has a broad range of intellectual interests

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Renaissance man Cultural  

1. An outstandingly versatile, well-rounded person. The expression alludes to such Renaissance figures as Leonardo da Vinci, who performed brilliantly in many different fields.

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Etymology

Origin of Renaissance man

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

The Renaissance man, the father of the modern age, can claim all of us as successors.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 23, 2025

“He was a war hero and a Renaissance man that did math theorems while he was in Congress and who could recite Homer from memory,” he says.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 6, 2025

Charles is at once a Renaissance man and a Luddite.

From Salon • Nov. 21, 2024

Now, the composer Joseph Boulogne would be hailed as a Renaissance man: artist, athlete, intellectual, soldier.

From New York Times • Jan. 22, 2024

It’s my honor and pleasure to salute You, a true Renaissance man of Harlem.

From "Bronx Masquerade" by Nikki Grimes