To save this word, you'll need to log in.
Definition of the Enlightenment
: a movement of the 18th century that stressed the belief that science and logic give people more knowledge and understanding than tradition and religion
Comments on the Enlightenment
What made you want to look up the Enlightenment? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
A More Exception(al) Quiz
- Which of the following words is not a synonym for ‘a young person’?
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
Ask the Editors
Share the Enlightenment