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A pretentious attitude of scholarship; superficial knowledgeability.

[From Late Latin sciolus, smatterer, diminutive of Latin scius, knowing, from scīre, to know; see skei- in Indo-European roots.]

sci′o·list n.
sci′o·lis′tic adj.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.sciolist - an amateur who engages in an activity without serious intentions and who pretends to have knowledge
amateur - someone who pursues a study or sport as a pastime
References in classic literature ?
Hermach exhibited a sciolist's perspective when he said Western Oregon was historically a vast old growth forest.
In "On Paradox and Common-Place," "the modern sciolist always inquires after the latest paradox.