knowledge
Americannoun
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acquaintance with facts, truths, or principles, as from study or investigation; general erudition.
knowledge of many things.
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familiarity or conversance, as with a particular subject or branch of learning.
A knowledge of accounting was necessary for the job.
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acquaintance or familiarity gained by sight, experience, or report.
a knowledge of human nature.
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the fact or state of knowing; the perception of fact or truth; clear and certain mental apprehension.
- Synonyms:
- scholarship, erudition, comprehension, discernment, understanding
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awareness, as of a fact or circumstance.
He had knowledge of her good fortune.
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something that is or may be known; information.
He sought knowledge of her activities.
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the body of truths or facts accumulated in the course of time.
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the sum of what is known.
Knowledge of the true situation is limited.
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Archaic. sexual intercourse.
adjective
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creating, involving, using, or disseminating special knowledge or information.
A computer expert can always find a good job in the knowledge industry.
idioms
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to one's knowledge, according to the information available to one.
To my knowledge he hasn't been here before.
noun
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the facts, feelings or experiences known by a person or group of people
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the state of knowing
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awareness, consciousness, or familiarity gained by experience or learning
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erudition or informed learning
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specific information about a subject
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sexual intercourse (obsolete except in the legal phrase carnal knowledge )
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to become known to one
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as I understand it
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as I know
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to behave in a presumptuous or conceited manner
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see little knowledge is a dangerous thing; to the best of (one's knowledge).
Related Words
See information.
Other Word Forms
- knowledgeless adjective
- preknowledge noun
- superknowledge noun
Etymology
Origin of knowledge
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
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.
They were all shallow, guy-at-the-end-of-the-bar observations that generally reflected very little knowledge of the complexity of the issues and the potential ramifications.
From Salon • Apr. 7, 2026
But fiscal Michael Cunningham put to her that she used Murphy's bank account and money to set the gym up and buy other items without her aunt's permission or knowledge.
From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026
Unified is exploring an idea to create regional hubs at which parents could drop off students — as a fallback for families with no other child-care options, according to sources with knowledge of the planning.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026
Following the “frightening” experience of being evacuated during the Eaton Fire in 2025, the “Fire Country” and “Rescue Me” actress applied the tactical knowledge she had acquired on set to safeguard the La Cañada dwelling.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 7, 2026
Her face was neither kind nor unkind; if a face could look like distilled knowledge, it would be this.
From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.