erudition

American  

[er-yoo-dish-uhn, er-oo-] / ˌɛr yʊˈdɪʃ ən, ˌɛr ʊ- /

noun

1. knowledge acquired by study, research, etc.; learning; scholarship.

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Usage

What is erudition? Erudition is knowledge obtained through study or research, as in Students gain erudition through reading and studying. Erudition is similar to such words as knowledge, learning, or scholarship. However, erudition is often used to mean that a person specifically acquired some kind of profound knowledge by extensively reading books, researching reports, or studying manuscripts. For this reason, erudition is typically used to refer to knowledge of topics such as theology or linguistics rather than math or physical sciences. Erudition comes from the adjective erudite, which describes something that is full of knowledge or that is scholarly. Example: The monk was known for his wisdom and erudition, having read every book in the monastery’s 1,000-year-old library.

Related Words

See learning.

Other Word Forms

• eruditional adjective
• nonerudition noun

Etymology

Origin of erudition

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin ērudītiōn- (stem of ērudītiō ) “an instruction.” See erudite, -ion

Explanation

If you've read shelves of thick books, people might describe you as a person of erudition. You might find erudition to be its own reward, but if you can make a career of it, even better! The Latin root of erudition is the verb erudire which means "to teach or train." By showing erudition, you show that you've learned a lot. If you write with erudition, your readers will know that you are a serious scholar, as long as you're not too far over their heads.

Example Sentences

Spier reviews his portfolio with an erudition that comes from an investor whose clock is ticking.

From Barron's • Mar. 12, 2026

Czech-born British playwright whose works were a rare combination of erudition and commercial success.

From BBC • Dec. 31, 2025

In the early 20th century, a clergyman named Montague Summers wrote histories of European vampires that displayed his erudition and eccentricity—not least because he was sure that vampires really did exist.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 21, 2025

Solomon, not well-known today, was a Harvard-educated bon vivant known for his erudition in new art’s European history.

From Los Angeles Times • May 20, 2024

There is a big difference between a coherent passage of writing and a flaunting of one’s erudition, a running journal of one’s thoughts, or a published version of one’s notes.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker

Related Words

• refinement