education

American  

[ej-oo-key-shuhn] / ˌɛdʒ ʊˈkeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of imparting or acquiring general knowledge, developing the powers of reasoning and judgment, and generally of preparing oneself or others intellectually for mature life.

   Synonyms:

   learning, schooling, instruction

2. the act or process of imparting or acquiring particular knowledge or skills, as for a profession.

3. a degree, level, or kind of schooling.

   a university education.

4. the result produced by instruction, training, or study.

   to show one's education.

   Synonyms:

   enlightenment, knowledge, learning

5. the science or art of teaching; pedagogics.

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education British  

/ ˌɛdjʊˈkeɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of acquiring knowledge, esp systematically during childhood and adolescence

2. the knowledge or training acquired by this process

   his education has been invaluable to him

3. the act or process of imparting knowledge, esp at a school, college, or university

   education is my profession

4. the theory of teaching and learning

   a course in education

5. a particular kind of instruction or training

   a university education

   consumer education

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Usage

What is a basic definition of education? Education is both the act of teaching knowledge to others and the act of receiving knowledge from someone else. Education also refers to the knowledge received through schooling or instruction and to the institution of teaching as a whole. Education has a few other senses as a noun. Education is a word that covers both the act of instructing and the act of learning. It usually refers specifically to the teaching of children or younger people and the learning done by them. Real-life examples: Elementary schools, high schools, and colleges are institutions focused on education: People are taught important information and life skills at these places. Medical schools, law schools, and driving schools provide more specialized forms of education. Used in a sentence: The proper education of children is considered important in every country. Related to this sense, education refers to the specific level or type of instruction a person has received. Used in a sentence: He has a high school education. Education also means the specific knowledge or scholarship a person has acquired from being taught. Real-life examples: Doctors have an education in medicine. Chemists have an education in chemistry. Bankers have an education in finance or economics. Used in a sentence: She has an education in languages and is fluent in French and Italian. Education is also used to refer to the process or institution of teaching in general. Real-life examples: Most teachers have college degrees in education. Nations often devote a portion of their budget to education. Used in a sentence: My brother decided to pursue a career in education.

Related Words

Education, training imply a discipline and development by means of study and learning. Education is the development of the abilities of the mind (learning to know): a liberal education. Training is practical education (learning to do) or practice, usually under supervision, in some art, trade, or profession: training in art, teacher training. Education, culture are often used interchangeably to mean the results of schooling. Education, however, suggests chiefly the information acquired. Culture is a mode of thought and feeling encouraged by education. It suggests an aspiration toward, and an appreciation of high intellectual and esthetic ideals: The level of culture in a country depends upon the education of its people.

Other Word Forms

• antieducation adjective
• noneducation noun
• overeducation noun
• preeducation noun
• proeducation adjective
• supereducation noun

Etymology

Origin of education

First recorded in 1525–35; from Middle French, from Latin ēducātiōn-, stem of ēducātiō “a rearing, bringing up,” literally “a leading out,” equivalent to ēducāt(us) ( see educate) + -iō -ion

Explanation

Whenever you learn something new, you are getting some amount of education. You might get your education in school, where you're learning to speak French, or in your garage, where you're learning how to repair your bike. Back in the 1500s, the word education meant "the raising of children," but it also meant "the training of animals." While there are probably a few teachers who feel like animal trainers, education these days has come to mean either "teaching" or "the process of acquiring knowledge."

Example Sentences

Because education is a devolved area, the approach to phones in schools varies across the UK.

From BBC • Apr. 20, 2026

Under these new provisions, the OfS would in theory have the power to remove the right to provide university level education, although that is likely to remain a threat rather than a reality.

From BBC • Apr. 19, 2026

“Trust in institutions is waning, and that’s not a problem we can brush aside. For higher education to serve the public good, we need the public’s trust.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 19, 2026

The two appeared together at a pre-K site in the Bronx, where they read to children and highlighted the importance of early childhood education.

From Salon • Apr. 19, 2026

A man whose life turned out just fine, regardless of his education level.

From "The Sea in Winter" by Christine Day

Related Words

• culture
• discipline
• improvement
• information
• learning
• literacy
• scholarship
• schooling
• science
• study
• teaching
• training