Erasmus

American  

[ih-raz-muhs] / ɪˈræz məs /

noun

1. Desiderius 1466?–1536, Dutch humanist, scholar, theologian, and writer.

2. a male given name: from a Greek word meaning “beloved.”

---

Erasmus British  

/ ɪˈræzməs /

noun

1. Desiderius (ˌdɛzɪˈdɪərɪəs), real name Gerhard Gerhards. ?1466–1536, Dutch humanist, the leading scholar of the Renaissance in northern Europe. He published the first Greek edition of the New Testament in 1516; his other works include the satirical Encomium Moriae (1509); Colloquia (1519), a series of dialogues; and an attack on the theology of Luther, De Libero Arbitrio (1524)

---

Example Sentences

“It seems very unlikely that this will change drastically at the next meeting, especially with the stock market having recovered its 2026 losses,” said Erasmus Kersting, economics department chair at Villanova’s School of Business.

From Barron's • May 22, 2026

Former classmates from Brooklyn’s Erasmus High, Diamond and Barbra Streisand joined forces for this chart-topping duet after each had already recorded the tune on their own.

From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026

Erasmus instead hired Holbein, who was no more than 26.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

"We let the virus slip out through our fingers when it first emerged in the poultry industry," said corresponding senior author Thijs Kuiken, a professor at Erasmus MC.

From Science Daily • Feb. 12, 2026

Erasmus was a kind, funny, charming man, and an indulgent uncle.

From "Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith" by Deborah Heiligman