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. Compare carnal knowledge.

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. come to one's knowledge
   to become known to one
8. to my knowledge
   1. as I understand it
   2. as I know
9. grow out of one's knowledge
   to behave in a presumptuous or conceited manner

Other Words From

• knowledge·less adjective
• pre·knowledge noun
• super·knowledge 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.

More idioms and phrases containing knowledge

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

Synonym Study

See information.

Related Words

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