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Autodidactic

adjectivePronunciation: /ˌɔː.toʊ.daɪˈdæk.tɪk/

In Portuguese: Autodidata

What does “Autodidactic” mean?

Relating to or characterized by self-directed instruction, independent learning, and mastery without formal mentors.

Etymology

From autodidact with the adjective ending -ic. Autodidact comes from Greek autodidaktos, "self-taught", formed from autos ("self") and didaktos ("taught"), from didaskein ("to teach"). The noun autodidact reached English first, through the learned Latin form of the Greek word, and the adjective was formed from it later, helped by the existing adjective didactic.

Usage note

A learned word; the plain equivalent is self-taught. The person is an autodidact, and autodidactic describes the person, the path or the method.

Synonyms

  • self-taught
  • self-educated
  • self-instructed
  • self-directed

Often confused with

didactic
Didactic means intended to teach others, and sometimes inclined to lecture; autodidactic refers to teaching oneself.

Word family

  • autodidact
  • autodidactism
  • autodidactically
  • didactic

Rhymes with

  • tactic
  • galactic
  • climactic
  • syntactic

Usage examples

  • I’ve always followed an autodidactic path too, just like you, but it got intensified after I stopped studying Classical Music, in 2014.

Concept

Source editions

Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.

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Also from these editions: terms

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A unit of time equal to one thousandth of a second.
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Also from these editions: concepts

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Cite this entry

“Autodidactic”. Agency Wiki, Agency Brasil. Published on November 11, 2026. https://www.agencybrasil.com/en/wiki/dictionary/autodidactic