book learning

noun

1. knowledge acquired by reading books, as distinguished from that obtained through observation and experience.

2. formal education.

   She thought that common sense was just as important as book learning.

book-learning

noun

1. knowledge gained from books rather than from direct personal experience

2. formal education

Other Word Forms

• book-learned adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of book learning¹

First recorded in 1580–90

Related Words

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