enlightenment

/ɪnˈlaɪtənmənt/
noun
  1. The state of having knowledge, understanding, and freedom from ignorance or false beliefs.
    • The discovery brought enlightenment to a question that had puzzled scientists for decades.
    • Education is the key to enlightenment and personal growth.
    • She sought enlightenment through reading philosophy and science.
  2. In Buddhism and other spiritual traditions, a state of perfect wisdom and liberation from suffering and desire.
    • Many monks dedicate their lives to the pursuit of spiritual enlightenment.
    • In Zen practice, enlightenment is often described as a sudden awakening.
    • The Buddha achieved enlightenment while meditating under a tree.
  3. The Enlightenment: a historical period in the 18th century when thinkers emphasized reason, science, and individual rights.
    • The Enlightenment brought new ideas about democracy and human rights.
    • Philosophers of the Enlightenment, like Voltaire, challenged traditional authority.
    • The scientific revolution was a key part of the Enlightenment.