education

noun

ed·​u·​ca·​tion ˌe-jə-ˈkā-shən How to pronounce education (audio)
1
a
: the action or process of educating or of being educated
also : a stage of such a process
b
: the knowledge and development resulting from the process of being educated
a person of little education
2
: the field of study that deals mainly with methods of teaching and learning in schools
educational adjective
educationally adverb

Example Sentences

The school is devoted to the education of children with reading difficulties. She received her education at private schools. The applicants had comparable educations. She earned her master's degree in education.
Recent Examples on the Web National Bonsai Museum The museum nurtures a collection of bonsai with special emphasis on specimens from Japan, China, and North America, in addition to providing education about bonsai. Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 20 Mar. 2023 While free education undoubtedly benefits frontline employees who might otherwise not be able to afford these opportunities, they aren’t born entirely of altruism. Paolo Confino, Fortune, 20 Mar. 2023 The land was donated by philanthropists to a trust, which operated the Robert Hungerford Normal and Industrial School, a private boarding school established in 1899 to provide vocational education to Black students in the segregated South. Martha Teichner, CBS News, 19 Mar. 2023 The mixed-race Latina has fought against adversity her entire life – her father was a farm worker with a seventh-grade education and her mother was in and out of the foster care system as a child. USA Today, 19 Mar. 2023 Suarez wants to honor his father by earning a better job, better money, a better education. Alex Horton, Washington Post, 19 Mar. 2023 The defenses the Hawkeyes have seen this season, especially in Big Ten play, have been an education. John Bohnenkamp, ajc, 18 Mar. 2023 The poll found 55% of respondents approve of how DeSantis is handling public education, even as the governor’s policies have garnered significant controversy nationwide. Alison Durkee, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2023 For many decades, women’s colleges have provided education to people who might not otherwise have access to higher learning due to traditional gender roles — namely, women, who were meant to raise families, not get degrees. Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 17 Mar. 2023 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'education.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

First Known Use

1531, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of education was in 1531

Dictionary Entries Near education

Cite this Entry

“Education.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/education. Accessed 26 Mar. 2023.

Kids Definition

education

noun
ed·​u·​ca·​tion ˌej-ə-ˈkā-shən How to pronounce education (audio)
1
a
: the action or process of educating or of being educated
b
: knowledge, skill, and development gained from study or practice
2
: the field of study that deals mainly with methods and problems of teaching
educational
-shnəl How to pronounce education (audio)
-shən-ᵊl
adjective
educationally adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on education

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