Definition of "sciolist"
sciolist
noun
plural sciolists
One who exhibits only superficial knowledge; a self-proclaimed expert with little real understanding.
Quotations
Men of true ſcience modestly admit the truth on the authority of the divine word; the ſciolist in imitation of the peasant, whoſe obſtinacy is the natural reſult of pride, and ignorance, will not believe if he does not comprehend.
1808, E[dmund] B[urke], A Treatise on the First Principles of Christianity, in which all Difficulties Stated by Ancient and Modern Sceptics, are Dispassionately Discussed, Halifax, Nova Scotia: Printed by John Howe and Son, page 207
And I think I can divine two classes of agitators from whom we may apprehend danger. I name them together as the sciolists and the socialists. The sciolist is dangerous in politics, as elsewhere, because his knowledge is imperfect and superficial and his conceit is apt to be in proportion to his ignorance.
1907, Religious Education Association, The Materials of Religious Education: Being the Principal Papers Present at, and the Proceedings of the Fourth General Convention of the Religious Education Association, Rochester, New York, February 5–7, 1907 [Proceedings of the Annual Convention; 4th], Chicago, Ill.: Executive Office of the Association
Sir, I can only say I believe that he is a sciolist. Sciolist is an odd word. I am sure you know what it means, Mr. Speaker, but for those who do not, it means a person who believes he knows in fact more than he does.
1963, Federal Assembly of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, Debates of the Federal Assembly, volume 19, Salisbury: Printed by the Parliamentary Printers, page 1887