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

That result shocked many Germans who had believed their country had developed an immunity to nationalism and assertions of racial superiority after confronting the horrors of its Nazi past through education and laws to prohibit persecution. — Arkansas Online, 21 Sep. 2026

Competitive compensation helps Broward recruit and retain the talented teachers and education professionals our children deserve. — Roberto Fernandez Iii, Sun Sentinel, 20 Sep. 2026

That evolution has meant responding to changing needs on the ground, while expanding its work across education, HIV prevention, youth safety and support for LGBTQ+ youth. — Lilly Workneh, HollywoodReporter, 20 Sep. 2026

Federal laws such as Title IX guarantee support services as part of the intent of the law is to make sure all students have equal access to their education. — Susan Daria Landino, Hartford Courant, 20 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