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Glite Dictionary
background knowledge

background knowledge

1 3.4
Information you already know from past experience that helps you understand new things
  • noun
  • /ˈbækɡraʊnd ˈnɑlɪdʒ/
translation icon : conocimientos previos
  • Activating, developing, and building upon students' background knowledge is essential for learning to take place.
  • build background knowledge
  • activate background knowledge
  • adequate background knowledge

They're coming at it with a huge amount of background knowledge about, you know, how humans work, how the world works, the idea of money.

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Examples

  • Katie led the student to new understanding by asking questions and tapping into background knowledge.

    Academic text (2014)

  • What are the essential pieces of background knowledge necessary for comprehending this text?

    Academic text (2014)

  • So my students can have some background knowledge before they spend their money on stuff in the store.

  • I just wish I had more background knowledge on what I was getting myself into.

    Academic text (2015)

  • What is it like to be a reader with greater background knowledge?

    Academic text (2014)

  • Select and modify content so that all students can bring background knowledge to new learning experiences.

    Academic text (2013)

  • Team members must remember that interpretations are largely based on one's background knowledge and experiences.

    Academic text (2014)

  • The New York education department understands the connection between reading for background knowledge and increased vocabulary acquisition.

    Academic text (2014)

  • In the ensuing discussion, she activated their background knowledge and related the material to their lives.

    Academic text (1997)

  • Before starting the project, the team reviewed relevant background knowledge to ensure everyone was on the same page.

Synonyms

background
vsbackground knowledge
365 2.6

The facts and context that help explain a situation or event

is personal prior experience and understanding used to comprehend new material
familiarity
vsbackground knowledge
38 2.9

Knowing something well because you have seen or used it many times

is broader prior understanding used to make sense of new texts
preunderstanding
vsbackground knowledge
  • Specialized
8.4

Knowledge and beliefs a person has before learning something new

is understanding from earlier experience that helps comprehend new situations
conversance
vsbackground knowledge
8.8

Knowledge of a subject or situation

is general experience-based information for understanding varied new problems
conversancy
vsbackground knowledge
7.9

The state of knowing a subject and having experience with it

is applied prior understanding used to interpret texts or situations

Antonyms

ignorance
316 3.9

Not knowing about something or how it works

How Much

expertise
302 4.9
background knowledge
1 3.4
ignorance
316 3.9

Surface Forms

background knowledge singular
background knowledges plural

Morphology

background + knowledge

The phrase's meaning ('information from prior experience') is directly compositional from 'background' (previous experience or training) + 'knowledge' (information or understanding), so a learner who knows both words can infer the combined meaning. This noun-noun combination is a common, cross-linguistic pattern and follows ordinary English compounding, making it immediately comprehensible at B1.

Etymology

Background knowledge uses a simple image: the facts and experience in the background behind a person are the knowledge they already have. So this 'background' of past facts helps you 'understand' new things, which is why the phrase means the things you already know that help you learn or follow something new.