polymath

1 of 2

noun (1)

poly·​math ˈpä-lē-ˌmath 

: a person of encyclopedic learning

polymath adjective

or polymathic

ˌpä-lē-ˈma-thik 

polymathy

pə-ˈli-mə-thē  ˈpä-lə-ˌma-thē 

noun

polymathy

2 of 2

noun (2)

po·​lym·​a·​thy pəˈliməthē 

plural -es

: the character or attainments of a polymath : encyclopedic learning

scorn for mere polymathy

—G. W. Johnson

Examples of polymath in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

While writing their paper, Erdős and Szekeres discovered a theorem from the young British polymath Frank Ramsey, who had already done groundbreaking work in philosophy, economics and math by his untimely death at age 26. — Jack Murtagh, Scientific American, 10 Aug. 2026

Photography by Venetia Scott impresses itself on you like that—an entire aesthetic world, made by an ultra-discreet British fashion photographer-polymath who lives and works at the end of a quiet street in North Kensington. — Sarah Mower, Architectural Digest, 5 Aug. 2026

Putnam was a polymath who made important strides far beyond just philosophy to mathematics, logic, computer science, and even quantum mechanics. — Theodore McDarrah, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026

Ben Franklin, the oldest founding father and polymath, stands across from George Washington, the first president of the United States. — Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 20 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Greek polymathēs very learned, from poly- + manthanein to learn — more at mathematical

Noun (2)

Greek polymathia much learning, from polymathēs knowing much + -ia -y

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1624, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for polymath

• tablecloth
• broadcloth
• cheesecloth
• loincloth
• neckcloth
• oilcloth
• sackcloth
• washcloth
• zeroth
• broth
• cloth
• doth