erudite

American  

[er-yoo-dahyt, er-oo-] / ˈɛr yʊˌdaɪt, ˈɛr ʊ- /

adjective

1. characterized by great knowledge; learned or scholarly.

   an erudite professor; an erudite commentary.

   Synonyms:

   sapient, wise, knowledgeable, educated

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erudite British  

/ ˌɛrʊˈdɪʃən, ˈɛrʊˌdaɪt /

adjective

1. having or showing extensive scholarship; learned

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Other Word Forms

• eruditely adverb
• eruditeness noun
• erudition noun
• nonerudite adjective
• noneruditely adverb
• noneruditeness noun
• unerudite adjective

Etymology

Origin of erudite

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin ērudītus, equivalent to ērud(ē)- ( ē- intensive prefix + rud- “unformed, rough, rude”) + -ītus adjective suffix; e- ¹, rude, -ite ²

Example Sentences

Mr. Weir and the Dead largely avoided hard rock and retained their identity and popularity by blending blues, folk, roots and country with rock to create a smooth but erudite sound.

From The Wall Street Journal

Because even his emails are literary, this one was erudite and friendly.

From Los Angeles Times

I didn’t want to make an erudite cinematic movie or a referential movie.

From Los Angeles Times

In The Times, critic David Kipen hailed Pynchon’s classic style as “Olympian, polymathic, erudite, antically funny, often beautiful, at times gross, at others incredibly romantic, never afraid to challenge or even confound.”

From Los Angeles Times

Compton is impossibly charming, effortfully erudite, and enjoys the status that comes with his stardom.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• knowledgeable
• literate
• scholarly