the Enlightenment
noun
: a movement of the 18th century that stressed the belief that science and logic give people more knowledge and understanding than tradition and religion
Examples of the Enlightenment in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
That’s important because before the Enlightenment, few people recognized even the brainy basics.
—
Kevin Dickinson, Big Think, 19 Sep. 2025
He was taught by the radical abolitionist Gilbert Wakefield, and his father was a friend and admirer of the Enlightenment philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau, whose ideas helped inspire the French Revolution.
—Roy Scranton, JSTOR Daily, 18 Sep. 2025
This was largely a response to the Enlightenment’s elevation of reason and logic and its ultimate achievement: the Industrial Revolution that unleashed modern capitalism on the world.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 23 Aug. 2025
Faith in the Enlightenment and European progress was destroyed.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the Enlightenment
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.
Kevin Dickinson, Big Think, 19 Sep. 2025
He was taught by the radical abolitionist Gilbert Wakefield, and his father was a friend and admirer of the Enlightenment philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau, whose ideas helped inspire the French Revolution.
—Roy Scranton, JSTOR Daily, 18 Sep. 2025
This was largely a response to the Enlightenment’s elevation of reason and logic and its ultimate achievement: the Industrial Revolution that unleashed modern capitalism on the world.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 23 Aug. 2025
Faith in the Enlightenment and European progress was destroyed.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the Enlightenment
Cite this Entry
“The Enlightenment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20Enlightenment. Accessed 28 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share