erudite

adjective

er·​u·​dite ˈer-ə-ˌdīt  ˈer-yə- 

: having or showing knowledge that is gained by studying : possessing or displaying erudition

an erudite scholar

There was the erudite-but-humble professor next door and upstairs.

—Maria Shine Stewart

In the telling of a life lived through books, and in her own sometimes floridly erudite sentences, the deep magic of writing is revealed.

—Nina Renata Aron

eruditely adverb

Did you know?

Erudite derives from Latin eruditus, the past participle of the verb erudire, meaning "to instruct." A closer look at that verb shows that it is formed by combining the prefix e-, meaning "missing" or "absent," with the adjective rudis, which means "rude" or "ignorant." (Rudis is also the source of the English word rude.) We typically use rude to mean "discourteous" or "uncouth" but it can also mean "lacking refinement" or "uncivilized." Taking these meanings into account, erudite stays true to its etymology: someone who is erudite has been transformed from a roughened or uninformed state to a polished and knowledgeable one through a devotion to learning.

Synonyms of erudite

• literate
• educated
• scholarly
• civilized

Examples of erudite in a Sentence

He wasn't bashful about showing himself to be feverishly erudite, … terminally droll, and a wizard phrasemaker. —Susan Sontag, New Yorker, 18 & 25 June 2001

… an engaging fellow: erudite, entertaining, intolerant of trendiness and fearlessly old-fashioned.  … He can turn a nice phrase, too. —Mordecai Richler, Wall Street Journal, 2 May 1995

He was well read, especially in the works of Kipling, a field in which Violet could give him a game, and from time to time they would exchange erudite letters about Kipling characters. —Anthony Powell, The Strangers All are Gone, 1982

the most erudite people in medical research attended the conference

an erudite lecture on the latest discoveries in astronomy

Recent Examples on the Web

Marty Peterson’s poetry Marty Peterson, player/manager of the winning St. Anthony Residence softball team, was an erudite man who hand-wrote prose and poetry in his journal during his drinking years. —Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 26 Oct. 2025

Without the ball, No 10s must be tactically erudite, recognising pressing triggers set by the striker. —Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025

Hawke renders Hart as the most erudite barfly to buzz around mid-century Manhattan. —Kyle McGovern, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025

Schattenfroh is extremely long and prodigiously learned, with scenes—and even sentences—that veer from one century to another, and with a taste for literary and art historical in-jokes that might try the patience of even the most erudite reader. —Book Marks september 11, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English erudit, from Latin eruditus, from past participle of erudire to instruct, from e- + rudis rude, ignorant

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for erudite

• acolyte
• aconite
• allanite
• alunite
• amberlite
• ammonite
• amorite
• amphitrite
• analyte
• anchorite
• andesite
• anhydrite

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Kids Definition

erudite

adjective

er·​u·​dite ˈer-(y)ə-ˌdīt 

: having or showing erudition

eruditely adverb