edification

American  

[ed-uh-fi-key-shuhn] / ˌɛd ə fɪˈkeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. an act of edifying.

2. the state of being edified; uplift.

3. moral improvement or guidance.

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edification British  

/ ˌɛdɪfɪˈkeɪʃən /

noun

1. improvement, instruction, or enlightenment, esp when morally or spiritually uplifting

2. the act of edifying or state of being edified

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Other Word Forms

• edificatory adjective

Etymology

Origin of edification

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English (from Anglo-French ), from Latin aedificātiōn-, stem of aedificātiō “act or process of building; a building”; in Late Latin also “spiritual improvement”; edify ( def. ), -fication; aedicule ( def. ),

Explanation

If something is for your edification, watch out! It means it's designed to improve you in some way, whether morally, educationally, or spiritually. Originally edification had a strictly religious sense, in the meaning of "building up of the soul," from the Latin term aedificationem, for "construction" or "building." From the same word we get edifice, meaning a building, especially a large and imposing one. So, you see, edification is all about efforts to build you into a more sound human being. Children can have a particular dislike for TV shows or books that are considered edifying by their parents or teachers.

Example Sentences

And I remember arriving and saying, “Listen, just for my own edification, I’d love to see the flier that you used to amalgamate this crowd that’s going to see this thing tonight.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 18, 2024

You might have expected technology billionaires to be well-informed about the world; someone like Musk could, if he chose, easily maintain a large research department for his personal edification.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 5, 2023

But it's an element of feel-good edification that fuels much of the star's iconic appeal.

From Salon • Oct. 10, 2022

Feeders have long been a popular way to connect with nature and draw in native species and passing migrants for our edification.

From Scientific American • Mar. 4, 2022

Before Owen, museums were designed primarily for the use and edification of the elite, and even then it was difficult to gain access.

From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson