Erudite — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈer-ə-ˌdīt/ er·u·dite

Meaning & Definition of Erudite

Erudite (adjective)

  1. having or showing knowledge that is gained by studying, possessing or displaying erudition

Erudite (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. having or displaying advanced knowledge or education

    "the most erudite people in medical research attended the conference"

    "an erudite lecture on the latest discoveries in astronomy"

    similar: educated, knowledgeable, learned, lettered, literate, scholarly, well-read
    related: civilized, cultivated, cultured, cerebral, highbrow, highbrowed, intellectual, polished, refined, well-bred, academic, bookish, didactic, didactical, inkhorn, pedantic, professorial, informed, instructed, schooled, skilled, trained, homeschooled, self-educated, self-instructed, self-taught, briefed, enlightened, versed, overeducated, polyhistoric, polymath
    opposite: benighted, dark, ignorant, illiterate, uneducated, unlearned, unlettered, unscholarly
    near: uncivilized, uncultivated, uncultured, lowbrow, semiliterate, unintellectual, ill-bred, unpolished, unrefined, uninformed, unknowledgeable, uninstructed, unschooled, untaught, untutored, undereducated

  2. suggestive of the vocabulary used in books

    "the erudite language of a textbook on philosophy"

    similar: bookish, learned, literary
    related: academic, donnish, inkhorn, pedantic, scholastic, belletristic, highbrow, highbrowed, intellectual, educated, schooled, elevated, eloquent, formal, high-flown, lofty, majestic, stately, towering, bombastic, declamatory, florid, flowery, grandiloquent, highfalutin, pompous, stilted
    opposite: colloquial, nonliterary, unbookish
    near: chatty, conversational, familiar, informal, slangy, illiterate

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Erudite

The most common words with a similar meaning to Erudite:

educated, knowledgeable, learned, lettered, literate, scholarly, well-read, bookish, literary

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Erudite

Words with the opposite meaning of Erudite:

benighted, dark, ignorant, illiterate, uneducated, unlearned, unlettered, unscholarly, colloquial, nonliterary, unbookish

Related Words for Erudite

civilized, cultivated, cultured, cerebral, highbrow, highbrowed, intellectual, polished, refined, well-bred, academic, didactic, didactical, inkhorn, pedantic, professorial, informed, instructed, schooled, skilled, trained, homeschooled, self-educated, self-instructed, self-taught, briefed, enlightened, versed, overeducated, polyhistoric

Near Antonyms of Erudite

uncivilized, uncultivated, uncultured, lowbrow, semiliterate, unintellectual, ill-bred, unpolished, unrefined, uninformed, unknowledgeable, uninstructed, unschooled, untaught, untutored, undereducated, chatty, conversational, familiar, informal, slangy

Word Forms of Erudite

Derived words: eruditely (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Erudite

Middle English erudit, from Latin eruditus, from past participle of erudire to instruct, from e- + rudis rude, ignorant

First known use: 15th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Erudite

What does "Erudite" mean?

"Erudite" means having or showing knowledge that is gained by studying, possessing or displaying erudition. As an adjective, it is defined as: having or showing knowledge that is gained by studying, possessing or displaying erudition. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Erudite"?

Other words for "Erudite" include educated, knowledgeable, learned, lettered, literate, scholarly, well-read and bookish. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Erudite" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Erudite"?

There are 59 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Erudite". Common alternatives include educated, knowledgeable, learned, lettered, literate, scholarly, well-read, bookish and literary.

What is the opposite of "Erudite"?

Antonyms of "Erudite" include benighted, dark, ignorant, illiterate, uneducated, unlearned, unlettered and unscholarly. Near antonyms include uncivilized, uncultivated, uncultured and lowbrow.

How do you use "Erudite" in a sentence?

Examples of "Erudite" in a sentence: "the most erudite people in medical research attended the conference"; "an erudite lecture on the latest discoveries in astronomy"; "the erudite language of a textbook on philosophy".

Is "Erudite" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Erudite" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Erudite"?

"Erudite" is pronounced /ˈer-ə-ˌdīt/ and divided into syllables as er·u·dite.

What is the origin of the word "Erudite"?

"Erudite" comes from Middle English erudit, from Latin eruditus, from past participle of erudire to instruct, from e- + rudis rude, ignorant. First known use: 15th century.