polymath
4 synonyms and 1 antonym for polymath, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A person with deep knowledge and ability across many different subjects.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use polymath
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
a true polymath
Renaissance polymath
polymath of the age
Formal and complimentary. Used sparingly in careful writing, since real breadth of expertise is rare.
Etymology
From Greek polymathēs, "having learned much", from poly-, "many", and manthanein, "to learn".
Full origin of polymath →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a polymath and a genius?
A genius has exceptional ability, often concentrated in one field. A polymath has substantial expertise spread across several unrelated fields. Someone can be a genius mathematician without being a polymath, and a polymath without being a genius in any one area.
What is the difference between a polymath and a jack of all trades?
Both cover many areas, but the phrases carry opposite judgements. "Jack of all trades" suggests broad but shallow ability, while polymath implies genuine depth in each field. One is faintly dismissive, the other is high praise.
