knowledge

[nol-ij]

noun

1. acquaintance with facts, truths, or principles, as from study or investigation; general erudition.

   knowledge of many things.

2. familiarity or conversance, as with a particular subject or branch of learning.

   A knowledge of accounting was necessary for the job.

3. acquaintance or familiarity gained by sight, experience, or report.

   a knowledge of human nature.

4. the fact or state of knowing; the perception of fact or truth; clear and certain mental apprehension.

   Synonyms: scholarship, erudition, comprehension, discernment, understanding

5. awareness, as of a fact or circumstance.

   He had knowledge of her good fortune.

6. something that is or may be known; information.

   He sought knowledge of her activities.

7. the body of truths or facts accumulated in the course of time.

8. the sum of what is known.

   Knowledge of the true situation is limited.

9. Archaic.,  sexual intercourse.

adjective

1. creating, involving, using, or disseminating special knowledge or information.

   A computer expert can always find a good job in the knowledge industry.

knowledge

/ ˈnɒlɪdʒ /

noun

1. the facts, feelings or experiences known by a person or group of people

2. the state of knowing

3. awareness, consciousness, or familiarity gained by experience or learning

4. erudition or informed learning

5. specific information about a subject

6. sexual intercourse (obsolete except in the legal phrase carnal knowledge )

7. to become known to one

8. 1. as I understand it

   2. as I know

9. to behave in a presumptuous or conceited manner

Other Word Forms

• knowledgeless adjective
• preknowledge noun
• superknowledge noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of knowledge¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English knouleche, equivalent to know(en) “to know” + -leche, perhaps akin to Old English -lāc suffix denoting action or practice, cognate with Old Norse (-)leikr; know ¹; wedlock

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. to one's knowledge, according to the information available to one.

   To my knowledge he hasn't been here before.

see little knowledge is a dangerous thing; to the best of (one's knowledge).

Synonym Study

See information.

Example Sentences

As is the case in many African countries, skilled farmers, with generations of knowledge, face a host of challenges.

Read more on Barron's

Brian added that the knowledge he would be the one left to pay for her funeral, despite having a plan, weighed on her.

Read more on BBC

By improving knowledge of the solar dynamo, the mission could lead to more accurate predictions of the solar cycle and, in turn, more reliable space weather forecasts.

Read more on Science Daily

Dutch officials later told Nexperia that the coming expansion of U.S. trade restrictions could lead to restrictions on the business, unless measures were taken to limit the transfer of knowledge and capabilities to China.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Creating "peer communities" reduces the isolation and allows families to share knowledge.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• ability 
• awareness 
• education 
• expertise 
• familiarity 
• grasp 
• insight 
• intelligence 
• judgment 
• know-how 
• learning 
• observation 
• philosophy 
• power 
• proficiency 
• recognition 
• science 
• theory 
• wisdom