- Today's Word
Edify
ED-uh-fye
Definition
(verb) To instruct or improve someone morally or intellectually.
Example
The speaker hoped his words would edify the audience, not just entertain them.
Fun Fact
Edify comes from Latin aedificare, meaning “to build”—and that metaphor still holds. When you edify someone, you’re building them up with knowledge or insight. It’s often used in religious or philosophical contexts, but also applies to writing, art, or film that challenges us to think more deeply. A TED Talk can be informative—but the really good ones? They edify.
(noun) The quality of being truthful, accurate, and habitually disposed toward honesty in all matters.
The journalist’s veracity was never questioned — not because she never made mistakes, but because she corrected them faster than anyone else in the room.