education

noun

ed·​u·​ca·​tion ˌe-jə-ˈkā-shən 

1

a

: the action or process of teaching or of being or becoming educated

If we fail to adequately invest in the education of our young people then we set ourselves up for the continued negative consequences that we are currently experiencing in our city.

—Robin P. Cooper

also : a stage of such a process see also adult education, continuing education, higher education, physical education, special education

b

: the knowledge and development resulting from the process of learning or being taught

a person of little education

There are lots of places where you can acquire education and skills for free or cheap …

—Brooke Allen

2

: the field of study that deals mainly with methods of teaching and learning in schools

She earned a master's degree in education.

educational

ˌe-jə-ˈkā-sh(ə-)nəl 

adjective

educational policies

educationally

ˌe-jə-ˈkā-sh(ə-)nəl-ē 

adverb

educationally disadvantaged

Synonyms of education

• schooling
• teaching
• instruction

Examples of education in a Sentence

The school is devoted to the education of children with reading difficulties.

She received her education at private schools.

The applicants had comparable educations.

She earned her master's degree in education.

Recent Examples on the Web

Industries such as healthcare and social assistance (+28,400) continued to add jobs while local government education (+41,900 jobs) reversed a large loss from July (-57,500). — Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026

Restaurants and bars led with 59,000 new jobs, while government education rose by 42,000 and manufacturing contributed 16,000. — Jeff Cox, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2026

Among the sectors that saw job growth during the month, employment at restaurants and bars rose by 59,000, while the local government education sector gained 42,000 as teachers returned to school. — Steve Kopack, NBC news, 4 Sep. 2026

Health inspectors provided education on separating meats and preventing cross contamination. — Sacbee.com, 4 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1534, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing education

• adult education
• bilingual education
• compensatory education
• continuing education
• counter-education
• distance education
• driver education
• driver's education
• further education
• higher education
• physical education
• self-education
• sex education
• special education
• tertiary education

Rhymes for education

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

education

noun

ed·​u·​ca·​tion ˌej-ə-ˈkā-shən 

1

a

: the action or process of educating or of being educated

b

: knowledge, skill, and development gained from study or practice

2

: the field of study that deals mainly with methods and problems of teaching

educational

-shnəl 

-shən-ᵊl

adjective

educationally

-ē 

adverb