Knowledge vs. Wisdom — What's the Difference?

Awareness or familiarity gained by experience of a fact or situation.

Insightful understanding and deep understanding typically offering life guidance.

The sum of what is known.

The ability to discern or judge what is true, right, or lasting.

Information held on a particular subject or field.

The quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment.

The fact or condition of knowing something with familiarity gained through experience or association.

The soundness of an action or decision with regard to the application of experience, knowledge, and good judgment.

The theoretical or practical understanding of a subject.

The body of knowledge and principles that develops within a specified society or period.

Knowledge is a familiarity, awareness, or understanding of someone or something, such as facts (descriptive knowledge), skills (procedural knowledge), or objects (acquaintance knowledge). By most accounts, knowledge can be acquired in many different ways and from many sources, including but not limited to perception, reason, memory, testimony, scientific inquiry, education, and practice.

Wisdom, sapience, or sagacity is the ability to think and act using knowledge, experience, understanding, common sense and insight. Wisdom is associated with attributes such as unbiased judgment, compassion, experiential self-knowledge, self-transcendence and non-attachment, and virtues such as ethics and benevolence.Wisdom has been defined in many different ways, including several distinct approaches to assess the characteristics attributed to wisdom.

Facts, information, and skills acquired through experience or education; the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject

The ability to discern or judge what is true, right, or lasting; insight.

Awareness or familiarity gained by experience of a fact or situation

Common sense; good judgment

The state or fact of knowing

The sum of learning through the ages; knowledge

Familiarity, awareness, or understanding gained through experience or study

Wise teachings of the ancient sages.

The sum or range of what has been perceived, discovered, or learned

A wise outlook, plan, or course of action.

(Archaic) Carnal knowledge.

Wisdom(Bible) Wisdom of Solomon.

The fact of knowing about something; general understanding or familiarity with a subject, place, situation etc.

(uncountable) An element of personal character that enables one to distinguish the wise from the unwise.

Awareness of a particular fact or situation; a state of having been informed or made aware of something.

(countable) A piece of wise advice.

Intellectual understanding; the state of appreciating truth or information.

The discretionary use of knowledge for the greatest good.

Familiarity or understanding of a particular skill, branch of learning etc.

The ability to apply relevant knowledge in an insightful way, especially to different situations from that in which the knowledge was gained.

(philosophical) Justified true belief

The ability to make a decision based on the combination of knowledge, experience, and intuitive understanding.

(obsolete) Information or intelligence about something; notice.

(theology) The ability to know and apply spiritual truths.

The total of what is known; all information and products of learning.

(rare) A group of wombats.

(countable) Something that can be known; a branch of learning; a piece of information; a science.

(rare) A group of owls.

(obsolete) Acknowledgement.

The quality of being wise; knowledge, and the capacity to make due use of it; knowledge of the best ends and the best means; discernment and judgment; discretion; sagacity; skill; dexterity.

(obsolete) Notice, awareness.

The results of wise judgments; scientific or practical truth; acquired knowledge; erudition.

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

Accumulated knowledge or erudition or enlightenment

(obsolete) To confess as true; to acknowledge.

The trait of utilizing knowledge and experience with common sense and insight

The act or state of knowing; clear perception of fact, truth, or duty; certain apprehension; familiar cognizance; cognition.

Ability to apply knowledge or experience or understanding or common sense and insight

That which is or may be known; the object of an act of knowing; a cognition; - chiefly used in the plural.

The quality of being prudent and sensible

That which is gained and preserved by knowing; instruction; acquaintance; enlightenment; learning; scholarship; erudition.

An Apocryphal book consisting mainly of a meditation on wisdom; although ascribed to Solomon it was probably written in the first century BC

That familiarity which is gained by actual experience; practical skill; as, a knowledge of life.

Scope of information; cognizance; notice; as, it has not come to my knowledge.

To acknowledge.

The psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning

Wisdom is the ability to apply knowledge, experience, understanding, and insight to make sound decisions.

Through the thoughtful application of knowledge, personal reflection, and learning from life’s experiences.

Yes, one can have knowledge without wisdom, but knowledge is often a precursor to developing wisdom.

Because wisdom involves the application of knowledge in an insightful and ethical manner, leading to better decision-making.

Yes, knowledge can be taught and shared through educational methods.

Through education, reading, observation, and experiences.

Wisdom inherently requires some form of knowledge to apply, though it extends beyond mere facts to understanding and judgment.

Knowledge goes beyond mere information; it includes understanding and the capacity to utilize information effectively.

Knowledge is the collection of facts, information, and skills acquired through experience or education.

Not necessarily, though it often grows with experiences that tend to accumulate with age.

Through actions, decisions, advice, and sometimes restraint, reflecting deep understanding and moral integrity.

While wisdom itself cannot be directly taught, environments that stimulate reflection and learning from experiences can foster its development.

Knowledge provides the foundation for wisdom, which in turn uses that foundation to make informed and ethical decisions.

Yes, as one gains more experiences and reflects on them, their wisdom can deepen and evolve.

Because it leads to actions and decisions that are considered just, ethical, and beneficial for the community and individuals alike.