erudition

UK: /ˌɛrʊˈdɪʃ^ən/

US: /ˈɛrəˌˈdɪʃən, ˈɛrjə-/

US: (er′yŏŏ dish′ən, er′ŏŏ-)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

er•u•di•tion  (er′yŏŏ dish′ən, er′ŏŏ-), n. 

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

• Latin ērudītiōn- (stem of ērudītiō) an instruction. See erudite, -ion
• Middle English 1350–1400

er′u•di′tion•al, adj. 
Synonyms

See learning. 

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

er•u•dite /ˈɛryʊˌdaɪt, ˈɛrʊ-/   adj. 

1. characterized by great academic knowledge; learned;
   scholarly.

er•u•di•tion /ˌɛryʊˈdɪʃən, ˌɛrʊ-/  n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

er•u•dite  (er′yŏŏ dīt′, er′ŏŏ-), adj. 

1. characterized by great knowledge;
   learned or scholarly:
   an erudite professor; an erudite commentary.

• Latin ērudītus, equivalent. to ērud- (ē- e- + rud- unformed, rough, rude) + -ītus -ite²
• late Middle English 1375–1425

er′u•dite′ly, adv. 
er′u•dite′ness, n. 
Synonyms

educated, knowledgeable; wise, sapient.