enlightened

adjective

en·​light·​ened in-ˈlī-tᵊnd How to pronounce enlightened (audio)
en-
1
: freed from ignorance and misinformation
an enlightened people
an enlightened time
2
: based on full comprehension of the problems involved
issued an enlightened ruling

Examples of enlightened in a Sentence

an enlightened approach to prison reform
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In line with enlightened ideas of the time, military engineers were assigned to lay out a precise urban grid which is still visible today. Miquel Ros, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2025 But more enlightened self-interest won out. Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025 Well, certainly any enlightened agreement at the end of the day, any sustainable agreement should always be bipartisan in nature, and that's been our position. ABC News, 28 Sep. 2025 What began as Casey’s own search for a more enlightened approach to treatment has grown into a global practice trusted by leaders and even other therapists—earning her recognition in Freq Magazine’s Radiance Issue, and invitations to countless top podcasts, including the Roxanne Show. Matt Emma, USA Today, 23 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for enlightened

Word History

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of enlightened was in 1578

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Cite this Entry

“Enlightened.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enlightened. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.

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