erudite

UK: /ˈɛrʊdaɪt/

US: /ˈɛrəˌdaɪt, ˈɛrjə-/

US: (er′yŏŏ dīt′, er′ŏŏ-)

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.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

erudite / ˈɛrʊˌdaɪt/ adjective

1. having or showing extensive scholarship; learned

Etymology: 15th Century: from Latin ērudītus, from ērudīre to polish, from ex-¹ + rudis unpolished, rough

erudition / ˌɛrʊˈdɪʃən/, ˈeruˌditeness noun