scholar

noun

schol·​ar ˈskä-lər 

1

: a person who attends a school or studies under a teacher : pupil

2

a

: a person who has done advanced study in a special field

b

: a learned person

3

: a holder of a scholarship

Synonyms

• pundit
• sage
• savant

Examples of scholar in a Sentence

She's a renowned scholar of African-American history.

scholars have long debated whether there is ever such a thing as a truly selfless act

Recent Examples on the Web

That year, Morgan’s son, J. Pierpont Morgan, Jr., or Jack, made his father’s library a public institution, easily accessible to scholars. —Hilton Als, The New Yorker, 16 Dec. 2024

But work and organization scholar Philip Hancock offers a different angle on the familiar image of the Santa Claus-for-hire: that of a worker in a temporary seasonal service job. —Laura Clawson, JSTOR Daily, 15 Dec. 2024

Kwanzaa has been celebrated for more than half a century, dating back to its creation by Maulana Ron Karenga, an activist and scholar, in 1966, according to the National Museum of African American History & Culture. —Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 12 Dec. 2024

The Bible's Book of Revelation has influenced U.S. immigration policy, with interpretations of America as the New Jerusalem and unwanted migrants as the castaways meant for Hell, a New Testament scholar says in a new book. —Russell Contreras, Axios, 12 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English scoler, from Old English scolere & Anglo-French escoler, from Medieval Latin scholaris, from Late Latin, of a school, from Latin schola school

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing scholar

• Rhodes scholar

Kids Definition

scholar

noun

schol·​ar ˈskäl-ər 

1

: a person who attends a school or studies under a teacher : pupil

2

a

: a person who has done advanced study in a special area

b

: a learned person

3

: a holder of a scholarship

scholarly adjective