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knowledge

/ˈnɒl.ɪdʒ/ (Received-Pronunciation)/ˈnɑ.lɪdʒ/ (General-American)/ˈnoʊ.lɪdʒ/ (obsolete)syllables: know·ledge
  • noun
  • verb
  • from Middle English

The fact of knowing about something; general understanding or familiarity with a subject, place, situation etc.

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1 All current definitions

Every sense of “knowledge” in current use, as recorded by Wiktionary. Older and obsolete senses are kept separately.

noun

  1. uncountableusuallyThe fact of knowing about something; general understanding or familiarity with a subject, place, situation etc.

    His knowledge of Iceland was limited to what he'd seen on the Travel Channel.

  2. uncountableusuallyAwareness of a particular fact or situation; a state of having been informed or made aware of something.

    He had always intended to visit him, though to the last always assuring his wife that he should not go; and till the evening after the visit was paid she had no knowledge of it.1813 January 27, [Jane Austen], Pride and Prejudice: […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), London: […] [George Sidney] for T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC:

  3. uncountableusuallyIntellectual understanding; the state of appreciating truth or information.

    Knowledge consists in recognizing the difference between good and bad decisions.

  4. uncountableusuallyFamiliarity or understanding of a particular skill, branch of learning etc.

    Does your friend have any knowledge of hieroglyphs, perchance?

  5. uncountableusuallyJustified true belief
  6. uncountableusuallyThe total of what is known; all information and products of learning.

    His library contained the accumulated knowledge of the Greeks and Romans.

  7. countableusuallySomething that can be known; a branch of learning; a piece of information; a science.

    he weakened his braines much, as all men doe, who over nicely and greedily will search out those knowledges [translating cognoissances], which hang not for their mowing, nor pertaine unto them.1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 12, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC:

  8. UKinformaluncountableusuallyThe deep familiarity with certain routes and places of interest required by taxicab drivers working in London, England.

    There is only one sure way to memorise the runs and that is to follow them, either on foot, cycle or motor cycle; hence, the familiar sight of would-be cabbies learning the knowledge during evenings and weekends.2002, Malcolm Bobbitt, Taxi! - The Story of the London Cab:

Older & obsolete senses (4)
  1. archaicuncountableusuallySexual intimacy or intercourse (now usually in phrase carnal knowledge).
  2. obsoleteuncountableusuallyInformation or intelligence about something; notice.
  3. obsoleteuncountableusuallyAcknowledgement.
  4. obsoleteuncountableusuallyNotice, awareness.
Wiktionary: “knowledge” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

verb

No current senses for this part of speech — see older senses.

Older & obsolete senses (1)
  1. obsoleteTo confess as true; to acknowledge.
Wiktionary: “knowledge” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0
Cross-check: WordNet senses (1)
  1. nounthe psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning — also: cognition, noesis
Princeton WordNet 3.0 — WordNet License

Synonyms: awareness, cognizance, ken, knowingness, learning, knowledge

Antonyms: ignorance

Wiktionary: “knowledge” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

2 History of the word

The etymology, the path the word travelled, and the words built from it.

The word’s journey, newest to oldest:

  1. English (today)knowledge
  2. Middle Englishknowleche
  3. Middle Englishknowen “to know, recognise” + -leche

From Middle English knowleche, knaweleche, cnawlece (“knowledge”), from knowen (“to know, recognise”) + -leche. Related to Middle English knowlechen (“to find out, acknowledge”). For more on the Middle English suffix -leche, compare freelage. Compare also Old English cnāwelǣċ, cnāwelǣċing (“acknowledging, acknowledgement”).

Wiktionary: “knowledge” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

Derivatives — words built from “knowledge”

acknowledgeafterknowledgeantiknowledgeanti-knowledgebeknowledgebook-knowledgecounterknowledgeethnoknowledgeforeknowledgeinterknowledgeknowledgableknowledgeableknowledge-boxknowledgefulknowledgelessknowledgelikeknowledgementmeta-knowledgemetaknowledgemisknowledgenonknowledgepreknowledgeprotoknowledgeself-knowledgesuperknowledgeunknowledgezero-knowledge

Phrases & compounds

a little knowledge is a dangerous thingball knowledgecontent knowledgeelite ball knowledgegendered knowledgeknowledge baseknowledge domainknowledge engineerknowledge engineeringknowledge graphknowledge is powerknowledge managementknowledge mapknowledge miningknowledge societyknowledge workknowledge workernaughty knowledgeNelsonian knowledgepersonal knowledge base

Related terms

knowknowingbeliefintuitionconvictionworldviewguessguessworkopinionviewdoctrineteachinghypothesistheoryassumptioninferenceestimateguesstimatetastepreference
Wiktionary: “knowledge” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

Want to go deeper? See also “knowledge” on Etymonline ↗

3 Original language

Where “knowledge” came from before it was English.

Native English word, from
Middle English
Middle English knowen + -leche
Wiktionary: “knowledge” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

4 Original meaning

What the word meant at the oldest point the record reaches.

Built from
knowen “to know, recognise” + -leche

Historical meaning — Webster’s 1913

A historical record, labelled as such: some of these senses are dated or have since shifted.

knowledge n. [OE. knowlage, knowlege, knowleche, knawleche. The last part is the Icel. suffix -leikr, forming abstract nouns, orig. the same as Icel. leikr game, play, sport, akin to AS. l, Goth. laiks dance. See Know, and cf. Lake, v. i., Lark a frolic.]

  1. The act or state of knowing; clear perception of fact, truth, or duty; certain apprehension; familiar cognizance; cognition.
  2. That which is or may be known; the object of an act of knowing; a cognition; -- chiefly used in the plural.
  3. That which is gained and preserved by knowing; instruction; acquaintance; enlightenment; learning; scholarship; erudition.
  4. That familiarity which is gained by actual experience; practical skill; as, a knowledge of life.

knowledge v. t.

  1. To acknowledge.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), public domain, via GCIDE

5 Use it with confidence

Model sentences from the sources, matched to the meaning they show. Read each one aloud, then make your own in the game.

nounMeaning: The fact of knowing about something; general understanding or familiarity with a subject, place, situation etc.

His knowledge of Iceland was limited to what he'd seen on the Travel Channel.

He has a lot of knowledge on the Indus Valley Civilization.

nounMeaning: Awareness of a particular fact or situation; a state of having been informed or made aware of something.

He had always intended to visit him, though to the last always assuring his wife that he should not go; and till the evening after the visit was paid she had no knowledge of it.1813 January 27, [Jane Austen], Pride and Prejudice: […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), London: […] [George Sidney] for T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC:

nounMeaning: Intellectual understanding; the state of appreciating truth or information.

Knowledge consists in recognizing the difference between good and bad decisions.

nounMeaning: Familiarity or understanding of a particular skill, branch of learning etc.

Does your friend have any knowledge of hieroglyphs, perchance?

A secretary should have a good knowledge of shorthand.

nounMeaning: The total of what is known; all information and products of learning.

His library contained the accumulated knowledge of the Greeks and Romans.

nounMeaning: Something that can be known; a branch of learning; a piece of information; a science.

he weakened his braines much, as all men doe, who over nicely and greedily will search out those knowledges [translating cognoissances], which hang not for their mowing, nor pertaine unto them.1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 12, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC:

There is a great difference in the delivery of the mathematics, which are the most abstracted of knowledges.1605, Francis Bacon, “The Second Booke”, in The Twoo Bookes of Francis Bacon. Of the Proficience and Aduancement of Learning, Diuine and Humane, London: […] [Thomas Purfoot and Thomas Creede] for Henrie Tomes, […], →OCLC

Wiktionary: “knowledge” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

Three steps to owning it

  1. Pick one meaning above and read its model sentence out loud.
  2. Say who or what the word is about in your own life, then build a sentence around that.
  3. Check it against the definition: would a careful reader understand exactly that meaning?

6 The mastery game

Play it here, or print it and do it with pen and paper. At the end you will know the meanings, history, origin and original meaning — and you will have used the word yourself.

Step 1 of 9

Say it, then spell it

knowledge

/ˈnɒl.ɪdʒ/ · know·ledge

Say the word out loud three times, slowly. Notice the stressed syllable. When you are ready, hide it and spell it from memory.

Activate Words · Word-mastery worksheet · Name: ______________________ Date: __________

knowledge

/ˈnɒl.ɪdʒ/ · know·ledge · noun, verb

Step 1 — Say it and write it

Say “knowledge” out loud three times. Then cover the word and write it three times from memory.

Step 2 — Know every meaning

Read each definition. Then write it again in your own words.

1. (noun) The fact of knowing about something; general understanding or familiarity with a subject, place, situation etc.
2. (noun) Awareness of a particular fact or situation; a state of having been informed or made aware of something.
3. (noun) Intellectual understanding; the state of appreciating truth or information.
4. (noun) Familiarity or understanding of a particular skill, branch of learning etc.
5. (noun) Justified true belief

Step 3 — Which meaning is it?

“His knowledge of Iceland was limited to what he'd seen on the Travel Channel.”

A. Familiarity or understanding of a particular skill, branch of learning etc.
B. The fact of knowing about something; general understanding or familiarity with a subject, place, situation etc.
C. Something that can be known; a branch of learning; a piece of information; a science.

Circle the meaning used.

“Knowledge consists in recognizing the difference between good and bad decisions.”

A. Intellectual understanding; the state of appreciating truth or information.
B. Something that can be known; a branch of learning; a piece of information; a science.
C. The fact of knowing about something; general understanding or familiarity with a subject, place, situation etc.

Circle the meaning used.

“Does your friend have any knowledge of hieroglyphs, perchance?”

A. Familiarity or understanding of a particular skill, branch of learning etc.
B. Intellectual understanding; the state of appreciating truth or information.
C. The fact of knowing about something; general understanding or familiarity with a subject, place, situation etc.

Circle the meaning used.

Step 4 — History and origin

Which language did “knowledge” come into English from?   A. Latin  B. Middle French  C. Middle Dutch  D. Middle English

Write the word’s journey back in time (each language and form):

Write three words built from “knowledge” and what each means:

Step 5 — Original meaning

Read the etymology on the page. What does it tell you about the word’s earlier meaning?

How does that original meaning connect to the meanings today?

Step 6 — Use it yourself

Write a sentence using “knowledge” to mean: The fact of knowing about something; general understanding or familiarity with a subject, place, situation etc.
Write a sentence using “knowledge” to mean: Awareness of a particular fact or situation; a state of having been informed or made aware of something.
Write a sentence using “knowledge” to mean: Intellectual understanding; the state of appreciating truth or information.

☐ I can explain its meanings   ☐ I know its history   ☐ I know its original language   ☐ I know its original meaning   ☐ I can use it confidently

Answer key — knowledge

Which meaning, sentence 1: B. The fact of knowing about something; general understanding or familiarity with a subject, place, situation etc.

Which meaning, sentence 2: A. Intellectual understanding; the state of appreciating truth or information.

Which meaning, sentence 3: A. Familiarity or understanding of a particular skill, branch of learning etc.

Origin: D. Middle English (Middle English knowen + -leche)

Journey: English knowledge ← Middle English knowleche ← Middle English knowen + -leche

Some derivatives: acknowledge, afterknowledge, antiknowledge, anti-knowledge, beknowledge, book-knowledge, counterknowledge, ethnoknowledge

Built from: knowen “to know, recognise” + -leche

Etymology: From Middle English knowleche, knaweleche, cnawlece (“knowledge”), from knowen (“to know, recognise”) + -leche. Related to Middle English knowlechen (“to find out, acknowledge”). For more on the Middle English suffix -leche, compare freelage. Compare also Old English cnāwelǣċ, cnāwelǣċing (“acknowledging, acknowledgement”).

Sources: Wiktionary “knowledge” (https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/knowledge#English), CC BY-SA 4.0, via kaikki.org; Princeton WordNet 3.0; Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913, public domain) via GCIDE. Worksheet from https://activatewords.com/w/knowledge