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

Generative AI can alter several activities at once because language sits at the center of administration, education, law, media, software and knowledge work. — Gerui Wang, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026

The festival began as a seasonal attraction but has grown into a Kansas City-area family tradition centered on education and close encounters with butterflies. — Sophia Buonpane, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026

The jobs span the agriculture, automotive, education, finance, government, healthcare, hospitality, information technology, law enforcement, real estate and retail industries, among others, according to the fair’s website. — Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 July 2026

More than 3,200 children have been killed or injured since February 24, 2022, and more than 1,700 schools and education facilities have been damaged or destroyed, leaving one in three children without full-time in-person education. — Emile Nuh, CNN Money, 31 July 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