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

Johannes Kepler, the German polymath famous for his laws of planetary motion, conjectured that this arrangement was optimal back in 1611. — Jack Murtagh, Scientific American, 17 Sep. 2026

The first scientist to address this question was a Belgian polymath named Adolphe Quetelet (1796–1874). — Literary Hub, 17 Aug. 2026

Zhang Heng’s seismoscope Chinese polymath Zhang Heng created his earthquake-detecting instrument in 132 CE. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 16 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

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