enlightenment
9 synonyms and 0 antonyms for enlightenment, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The state of having clear understanding, insight, or wisdom.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use enlightenment
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From enlighten + -ment.
Full origin of enlightenment →Frequently asked questions
What does “enlightenment” mean?
The word “enlightenment” means the state of having clear understanding, insight, or wisdom. In plain terms, a state of deep understanding or wisdom — or, capitalized, the historical era of reason-driven European thought.
How do you pronounce “enlightenment”?
“Enlightenment” is pronounced ihn-LEYE-tuhn-muhnt (/ɪnˈlaɪtənmənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “enlightenment” in a sentence?
Here is “enlightenment” used in a sentence: “He described a moment of sudden enlightenment while meditating.”
What is another word for “enlightenment”?
Words with a similar meaning to “enlightenment” include epiphany, peace that passeth understanding, bodhi, nirvana, satori and zen.
What part of speech is “enlightenment”?
Depending on how it is used, “enlightenment” can be a noun and a name.
Is “enlightenment” a common word?
“Enlightenment” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “enlightenment” have?
“Enlightenment” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the state of having clear understanding, insight, or wisdom.
What is the difference between enlightenment and knowledge?
Knowledge simply refers to information or facts a person has learned. Enlightenment goes further, describing a deeper state of clear understanding, insight, or wisdom, often implying a shift in perspective rather than just an accumulation of facts.
What is the difference between enlightenment (lowercase) and the Enlightenment (capitalized)?
Lowercase enlightenment refers to a personal state of clear understanding or insight. Capitalized, the Enlightenment refers to a specific 17th-and-18th-century European intellectual movement that championed reason and science over tradition and superstition, a historical period rather than a personal state of mind.
Is enlightenment associated with a particular religious or philosophical tradition?
The general sense of enlightenment as insight or wisdom is used across many traditions and in secular contexts alike, describing any moment of clear understanding, rather than being tied to one single belief system.