The fact of knowing about something; general understanding or familiarity with a subject, place, situation etc. .mw-parser-output .defdate{font-size:smaller}
What is knowledge?
• Awareness of a particular fact or situation; a state of having been informed or made aware of something.
• Intellectual understanding; the state of appreciating truth or information.
• Familiarity or understanding of a particular skill, branch of learning etc.
• Justified true belief
• Sexual intimacy or intercourse (now usually in phrase carnal knowledge).
• Information or intelligence about something; notice.
• The total of what is known; all information and products of learning.
• Something that can be known; a branch of learning; a piece of information; a science.
• Acknowledgement.
• Notice, awareness.
• The deep familiarity with certain routes and places of interest required by taxicab drivers working in London, England.
(Verb) To confess as true; to acknowledge.
Why knowledge matters
knowledge appears in U.S. legal practice across multiple practice areas. Knowing what it means — and when it applies — can determine the outcome of motions, filings, and negotiations. For non-lawyers, the value of looking up a precise definition is that legal terms often carry meanings that differ from everyday usage; relying on the common meaning can lead to costly missteps.
How knowledge works in practice
In practice, knowledge is invoked when parties, judges, or attorneys need to identify the legal status of an issue, the rights of those involved, or the procedural step required next. The definition shown above is sourced from Wiktionary , which is widely cited in U.S. legal practice. Because U.S. law is jurisdictionally layered — federal, state, and sometimes local — the precise application of the term can vary by court, so check the controlling authority for your specific case.