Standard Lemma guide

polymathy

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /pəˈlɪməθi/
  • rhymes with -ɪməθi

1

noun

Meaning 1

The knowledge of many arts and sciences; variety of learning.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Ultimately from Ancient Greek πολυμαθής (polumathḗs, “having learnt much”). By surface analysis, polymath + -y (“having the quality of”). See polymath for details.

Across languages

Translations

10 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: polimatia — knowledge of many arts and sciences; variety of learning
  • Chinese Mandarin: 博學 /博学 (bóxué) — knowledge of many arts and sciences; variety of learning
  • Finnish: monioppineisuus — knowledge of many arts and sciences; variety of learning
  • French: polymathie — knowledge of many arts and sciences; variety of learning
  • German: Polymathie — knowledge of many arts and sciences; variety of learning
  • Greek: πολυμάθεια (polymátheia) — knowledge of many arts and sciences; variety of learning
  • Occitan: polimatia — knowledge of many arts and sciences; variety of learning
  • Polish: wiedza o wielu przedmiotach — knowledge of many arts and sciences; variety of learning
  • Romanian: polimatie — knowledge of many arts and sciences; variety of learning
  • Russian: полимати́я (polimatíja) — knowledge of many arts and sciences; variety of learning