Meanings
nounpaideia (uncountable)
- historicaluncountableAncient GreeceeducationAn Athenian system of education designed to give students a broad cultural background focusing on integration into the public life of the city-state with subject matter including gymnastics, grammar, rhetoric, music, mathematics, geography, natural history, and philosophy
- historicaluncountableAncient GreeceeducationThe epitome of physical and intellectual achievement to which an Ancient Greek citizen could aspire; societal and cultural perfection.
- EarlyhistoricaluncountableChristianityAn early model of Christian higher learning having theology as its chief subject.
Synonyms: humanitas
- USuncountablefrequently attributiveeducationA pedagogical system focusing on providing children with a broad and balanced education.
Synonyms & antonyms
nounAn early model of Christian higher learning having theology as its chief subject.
Similar
humanitas
Origin
- Ancient Greekπαιδείᾱ“rearing of a child, education”
- Englishpaideia
From Ancient Greek παιδείᾱ (paideíā, “rearing of a child, education”), from παιδεύω (paideúō, “rear a child”) + -ίᾱ (-íā), from παῖς (paîs, “child”).
More words from Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
APA
paideia. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/paideia
MLA
“paideia.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/paideia. Accessed November 3, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “paideia,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/paideia.
Source: paideia on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.