Polymath
/ˈpɒl.i.mæθ/noun
A person with wide-ranging knowledge across many subjects.
Did you know?The word was built in Greek from roots also found in “mathematics,” because both ultimately come from the idea of learning, studying, and acquiring knowledge.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
polymathēs
“having learned much; very learned”
Late Greek
Greek
polymathia
“much learning, great learning”
16th Century
English
polymathes
“a learned person”
19th Century
English
polymath
“a person of wide learning in many fields”
Modern English
English
polymath
“a person with broad knowledge across many subjects”
Explore more surprising origins