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enlightened

/ɛnˈlaɪɾɪnd/
/ɛnˈlaɪtɪnd/
IPA guide

Other forms: enlightenedly

Have you ever thought long and hard about a problem and then, suddenly, experienced an "ah-ha!" moment? If your answer is yes, then congratulations! You were enlightened or in possession of a clear understanding of what was otherwise mysterious.

The word enlightened comes from the Latin prefix en meaning "in, into" and the word lux meaning "light." Combine these meanings — "into the light" — and you're describing what it is that characterizes an enlightened person: a sense of clarity and understanding. People often seek to be enlightened spiritually, by taking pilgrimages, meditating, or looking to spiritual gurus like the Dalai Lama.

Definitions of enlightened
  1. adjective
    having knowledge and spiritual insight
    synonyms:
    educated
    possessing an education (especially having more than average knowledge)
    edified
    instructed and encouraged in moral, intellectual, and spiritual improvement
    informed
    having much knowledge or education
    see moresee less
    antonyms:
    unenlightened
    not enlightened; ignorant
    uneducated
    having or showing little to no background in schooling
    benighted, dark
    lacking enlightenment or knowledge or culture
    uninformed
    not informed; lacking in knowledge or information
  2. adjective
    characterized by full comprehension of the problem involved
    “an enlightened electorate”
    synonyms: educated
    informed
    having much knowledge or education
  3. noun
    people who have been introduced to the mysteries of some field or activity
    synonyms: initiate
    see moresee less
    type of:
    people
    (plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
Pronunciation
US
/ɛnˈlaɪɾɪnd/
UK
/ɛnˈlaɪtɪnd/
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘enlightened'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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