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Synonyms

knowledgeable

American  
[nol-i-juh-buhl] / ˈnɒl ɪ dʒə bəl /
Or knowledgable

adjective

  1. possessing or exhibiting knowledge, insight, or understanding; intelligent; well-informed; discerning; perceptive.


knowledgeable British  
/ ˈnɒlɪdʒəbəl /

adjective

  1. possessing or indicating much knowledge

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms


Etymology

Origin of knowledgeable

First recorded in 1600–10; knowledge + -able


Explanation

Someone who is knowledgeable is highly educated and well versed in a particular subject. Making it your life goal to become knowledgeable about naked mole rats might not win you the Nobel Prize, but it might be fun. It’s interesting to note the shift in meaning of the adjective knowledgeable from when it was first recorded in the 1600s and now. Originally, knowledgeable was spelled without the second -e, and meant “capable of being known, recognizable.” Now, though, we use the adjective to describe that which has or displays knowledge. If you're well-read and alert, you're knowledgeable about the ways of the world.

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Vocabulary lists containing knowledgeable

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

These days, the people of PNG are among the most knowledgeable and passionate.

From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026

Journal readers are wise, idealistic and knowledgeable and almost invariably have insights that contribute more to any subject than I can.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026

Just present yourself as knowledgeable and open-minded, as opposed to a blanket cynic.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 7, 2026

Rubio is knowledgeable about "the pain of the Cuban exile... because he is a product of South Florida," Bovo added.

From Barron's ● Jul. 29, 2026

General Peckem drifted toward the window, laughing quietly again, and settled back against the sill with his arms folded, greatly satisfied by his own wit and by his knowledgeable, blase impudence.

From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller

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