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I'm just trying to find a word that describes someone who's always in the process of learning. I'm talking more about a way of living than about someone like an apprentice etc. though.

FumbleFingers
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yawnt
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1 Answers1

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"Lifelong learner" is the term widely used to describe a person who actively engages in learning new things as a lifestyle choice. There is the single word "philomath" - lover of learning - but it is rarely seen and would not be understandable to 99+% of even native English users.

Note that "philomath" was last seen in common usage as an honorific for almanac writers. Poor Richard being the most famous and possibly the last.

FumbleFingers
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K.A.Monica
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  • +1 for "philomath". I've never heard that term before, but it's very cool. :-) – godel9 Jan 02 '14 at 22:30
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    You're right on the money with that 99+%. If I've ever seen philomath before, I certainly don't recall it. I'd have guessed lover of mathematics, though, so it was reassuring to see OED defines it as A lover of learning; a student or scholar, esp. of mathematics, natural philosophy, etc.. But they also say it's "Now chiefly hist." I'm adding a link so OP and/or future visitors will realise it's not likely to be worth learning (unless they also take the trouble to remember why they probably don't want to use it! :) – FumbleFingers Jan 03 '14 at 02:02
  • Related to polymath, a somewhat more common word (but still somewhat unusual). –  Jan 03 '14 at 02:45