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

First of all, leaders would have control and knowledge of the legislative agenda, not to mention influence on regulatory activity and federal procurement.

Read more on MarketWatch

I was worried, but I also felt angry about how this could have happened without me having any knowledge, and very little control.

Read more on BBC

Their long-standing presence and environmental knowledge help maintain a unique form of biocultural heritage in which ecological and cultural diversity have developed side by side over many generations.

Read more on Science Daily

"If this came to my knowledge I would have asked the service police to investigate the DSF for that failure to report in 2011," he said.

Read more on BBC

Either way, radicalism and animus replace knowledge and wisdom.

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