enlightenment
noun
en·light·en·ment
in-ˈlī-tᵊn-mənt 
en-
1
: the act or means of enlightening : the state of being enlightened
2
Enlightenment
: a philosophical movement of the 18th century marked by a rejection of traditional social, religious, and political ideas and an emphasis on rationalism
—used with the
3
Buddhism
: a final blessed state marked by the absence of desire or suffering
Examples of enlightenment in a Sentence
the search for spiritual enlightenment
His comments failed to provide enlightenment.
the enlightenment of the public through education
Recent Examples on the Web
The date marks the celebration of Buddha Purnima — also called Vesak and Buddha Jayanti — when worshippers commemorate the birth, enlightenment and death of Gautama Buddha, according to Time and Date.
—
Anthony Wood, Space.com, 2 May 2026
The problem is pretending all of this is moral enlightenment instead of corporate strategy.
—Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026
The barbed fact is that the woman caught in the middle of this unusual male arrangement benefits from none of their newfound emotional enlightenment.
—Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2026
In a country without the NEA, NEH and IMLS, hundreds of small local arts groups would likely cease to exist entirely — and with them, the community, education and enlightenment that underpin our increasingly fragile, fractured society.
—Arts Editor, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for enlightenment
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Anthony Wood, Space.com, 2 May 2026
The problem is pretending all of this is moral enlightenment instead of corporate strategy.
—Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026
The barbed fact is that the woman caught in the middle of this unusual male arrangement benefits from none of their newfound emotional enlightenment.
—Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2026
In a country without the NEA, NEH and IMLS, hundreds of small local arts groups would likely cease to exist entirely — and with them, the community, education and enlightenment that underpin our increasingly fragile, fractured society.
—Arts Editor, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for enlightenment
Cite this Entry
“Enlightenment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enlightenment. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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