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

"So he clearly has knowledge of what happened and we just want him to come forward and tell us what he knows."

Read more on BBC

But "thanks to our knowledge and research, we have gradually succeeded".

Read more on Barron's

In the end, knowledge really is power — and taking the time to dissect an aid package can mean the difference between a manageable college budget and unexpected debt.

Read more on MarketWatch

The U.S. plans to attack military installations inside Venezuela and the strikes could come at any moment, the Miami Herald reported Friday, citing sources with knowledge of the situation.

Read more on MarketWatch

“They are treated as gods and goddesses and put on pedestals for searching for and ‘representing’ truth and knowledge and recognizing and being proud of who they are and where they come from.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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