Renaissance man

American  

noun

1. a cultured man of the Renaissance who was knowledgeable, educated, or proficient in a wide range of fields.

2. (sometimes lowercase) a present-day man who has acquired profound knowledge or proficiency in more than one field.

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Renaissance man British  

noun

1. a man of any period who has a broad range of intellectual interests

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Renaissance man Cultural  

1. An outstandingly versatile, well-rounded person. The expression alludes to such Renaissance figures as Leonardo da Vinci, who performed brilliantly in many different fields.

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Etymology

Origin of Renaissance man

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

The Renaissance man, the father of the modern age, can claim all of us as successors.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 23, 2025

I recently spoke with Weller about the legacy and politics of “RoboCop,” his long career, turn as a Renaissance man, the importance of jazz and his friendship with Miles Davis.

From Salon • Apr. 19, 2025

Smart, worldly and insatiably curious, Mr. Ramaswamy is about as close as you get to a Renaissance man in our times.

From Washington Times • Jul. 24, 2023

The mapmaker was something of a Renaissance man — relatives said he pursued photography, worked as a chauffeur and served as an executive with the Screen Extras Guild, then a union for background actors.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2023

Today, there’s a term for this range of talents: a Renaissance man.

From "The Mona Lisa Vanishes" by Nicholas Day