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enlightenment

en-LY-tun-munt /ɪnˈlaɪtnmənt/

nounC1GREGMATUPSC

academicphilosophical

An 18th-century philosophical movement emphasizing reason, individualism, and skepticism of traditional religious dogma.

In a spiritual context, it refers to the state of having gained deep knowledge or insight.

The story behind the word. Derived from the Old English 'lihtan' (to make light). The historical term was a translation of the French 'Lumières' and German 'Aufklärung', both meaning 'a lighting up' of the dark corners of superstition.

Word relationships

Age of Reason: Often used interchangeably with the historical Enlightenment.
insight: A much smaller, more personal scale of understanding.

ignorance: Lack of knowledge or understanding.
obscurantism: The practice of deliberately preventing the facts or full details of something from becoming known.

Commonly confused with

illumination: Illumination is the act of lighting; enlightenment is the state of understanding.

Word family

enlighten (verb): To give someone greater knowledge or understanding.
enlightened (adjective): Having or showing a rational, modern, and well-informed outlook.

Collocations

the Age of Enlightenment
spiritual enlightenment
attain enlightenment

Example sentences

"The principles of the Enlightenment, such as liberty and equality, heavily influenced the American Revolution." Discussing political philosophy.
"After years of meditation, the monk finally reached a state of spiritual enlightenment." A spiritual context.

Memory hook

Think of a lightbulb turning on in the collective brain of humanity. Turning the lights on in history.

When not to use

Avoid using it for simple 'learning'; it implies a fundamental shift in understanding.

Fun facts

Immanuel Kant famously defined Enlightenment as 'man's emergence from his self-imposed nonage' (immaturity).