polymath

noun

poly·​math ˈpä-lē-ˌmath How to pronounce polymath (audio)
Synonyms of polymath
: a person of encyclopedic learning
polymath adjective
or polymathic
ˌpä-lē-ˈma-thik How to pronounce polymath (audio)
polymathy
pə-ˈli-mə-thē How to pronounce polymath (audio) ˈpä-lə-ˌma-thē How to pronounce polymath (audio)
noun

Examples of polymath in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
While writing their paper, Erdős and Szekeres discovered a theorem from the young British polymath Frank Ramsey, who had already done groundbreaking work in philosophy, economics and math by his untimely death at age 26. — Jack Murtagh, Scientific American, 10 Aug. 2026 Photography by Venetia Scott impresses itself on you like that—an entire aesthetic world, made by an ultra-discreet British fashion photographer-polymath who lives and works at the end of a quiet street in North Kensington. — Sarah Mower, Architectural Digest, 5 Aug. 2026 Putnam was a polymath who made important strides far beyond just philosophy to mathematics, logic, computer science, and even quantum mechanics. — Theodore McDarrah, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026 Ben Franklin, the oldest founding father and polymath, stands across from George Washington, the first president of the United States. — Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 20 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for polymath

Word History

Etymology

Greek polymathēs very learned, from poly- + manthanein to learn — more at mathematical

First Known Use

1624, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of polymath was in 1624

Rhymes for polymath

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Browse Nearby Words

Polymastigina
polymath
polymathy
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Cite this Entry

“Polymath.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/polymath. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

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