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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.

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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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  • And of course polyhistor in parallel to polymath.
    – Janus Bahs Jacquet
    Commented Nov 12, 2016 at 23:17
  • Note also that these terms have been given in duplicate threads.
    – Edwin Ashworth
    Commented Nov 12, 2016 at 23:43
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How about genius?

M-W:

genius: a very smart or talented person : a person who has a level of talent or intelligence that is very rare or remarkable

Your example:

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

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    No, one can be a genius, yet limited to a single narrow field, e.g. Paul Erdős. Or one can be just reasonably intelligent, but educated in many fields.
    – jamesqf
    Commented Nov 13, 2016 at 4:58
  • Yes, I agree, but genius often is much broader. Erdos was exceptionally narrow. Consider Einstein instead. There are many others like him. For example, I wouldn't call Leibnitz a polymath. While he was a polymath, I'd still call him a a genius. Most people familiar with him would do the same.
    – Richard Kayser
    Commented Nov 13, 2016 at 5:23

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