From Middle English knowleche, knaweleche, cnawlece, from knowen + -leche.

• • (RP) IPA: /ˈnɒlɪd͡ʒ/
  • (America) IPA: /ˈnɑlɪd͡ʒ/
• (obsolete) enPR: nōl′ij, IPA: /ˈnoʊlɪd͡ʒ/

knowledge (uncountable)

1. The fact of knowing about something; general understanding or familiarity with a subject, place, situation etc. [from 14th c.]

   His knowledge of Iceland was limited to what he'd seen on the Travel Channel.

2. Awareness of a particular fact or situation; a state of having been informed or made aware of something. [from 14th c.]
   • 1813 January 26, [Jane Austen], Pride and Prejudice: […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), London: […] [George Sidney] for T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC ↗:

     He had always intended to visit him, though to the last always assuring his wife that he should not go; and till the evening after the visit was paid she had no knowledge of it.

3. Intellectual understanding; the state of appreciating truth or information. [from 14th c.]

   Knowledge consists in recognizing the difference between good and bad decisions.

   • c. 1587–1588, [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC ↗; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire, London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act II, scene vii ↗:

     Our ſoules, whoſe faculties can comprehend
     The wondrous Architecture of the world:
     And meaſure euery wandring planets courſe,
     Still climing after knowledge infinite, […]

4. Familiarity or understanding of a particular skill, branch of learning etc. [from 14th c.]

   Does your friend have any knowledge of hieroglyphs, perchance?

   A secretary should have a good knowledge of shorthand.

5. (philosophical) Justified true belief
6. (archaic or legal) Sexual intimacy or intercourse (now usually in phrase carnal knowledge). [from 15th c.]
7. (obsolete) Information or intelligence about something; notice. [15th]
8. The total of what is known; all information and products of learning. [from 16th c.]

   His library contained the accumulated knowledge of the Greeks and Romans.

9. (countable) Something that can be known; a branch of learning; a piece of information; a science. [from 16th c.]
   • 1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 12, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC ↗:

     he weakened his braines much, as all men doe, who over nicely and greedily will search out those knowledges [translating cognoissances], which hang not for their mowing, nor pertaine unto them.

   • 1605, Francis Bacon, “(please specify |book=1 or 2)”, in The Twoo Bookes of Francis Bacon. Of the Proficience and Aduancement of Learning, Diuine and Humane, London: […] [Thomas Purfoot and Thomas Creede] for Henrie Tomes, […], →OCLC ↗:

     There is a great difference in the delivery of the mathematics, which are the most abstracted of knowledges.

10. (obsolete) Acknowledgement. [14th]
11. (obsolete) Notice, awareness. [17th c.]
    • 1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC ↗, :[10]:

      Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?

12. (UK, informal) The deep familiarity with certain routes and places of interest required by taxicab drivers working in London, England.

• awareness
• cognizance
• ken
• knowingness
• learning
• See Thesaurus:knowledge

• ignorance

• know
• knowing

• French: connaissance, science
• German: Wissen, Kenntnis
• Italian: conoscenza
• Portuguese: conhecimento
• Russian: зна́ние
• Spanish: conocimiento

• French: connaissance
• German: Wissen, Kenntnis
• Italian: conoscenza
• Portuguese: conhecimento, ciência
• Russian: зна́ние
• Spanish: conocimiento

• French: connaissances
• Portuguese: conhecimento
• Russian: зна́ние
• Spanish: conocimientos

• French: connaissances, science, savoir, connaissance
• Italian: sapere
• Portuguese: conhecimento
• Russian: зна́ния
• Spanish: conocimiento

knowledge (knowledges, present participle knowledging; simple past and past participle knowledged)

1. (obsolete) To confess as true; to acknowledge. [13th]
   • 1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC ↗, Matthew iij:

     Then went oute to hym Jerusalem, and all Jury, and all the region rounde aboute Jordan, and were baptised of hym in Jordan, knoledging their synnes.

1. A course of study which must be completed by prospective London taxi drivers; consists of 320 routes through central London and many significant places.
   • 2004, Robert S. Wayne, Royal London in Context: The Independent Traveler's Guide to Royal London, page 177:

     The drivers of the officially licensed "black cabs" are famous for their mastery of "The Knowledge" of London streets.