single word requests - Student of many disciplines without the negative connotation of "Dilettante"?



What's a word for a person who studies many subjects? Often, the words we use to describe this type of person implies that he/she knows little about each subject (e.g. jack-of-all-trades, dilettante). I'd like to avoid that negative meaning.


e.g. Steve was a true ________; he was well-versed in everything from theoretical physics to gastronomy.



Answer



Per Wikipedia:



A polymath is a person whose expertise spans a significant number of different subject areas.



You could also use Renaissance Man to hearken back to the time when being a generalist didn't make you a ""jack of all trades, master of none". Notice that Wikipedia redirects "Renaissance Man" to "Polymath".


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