bachelor

American  

[bach-ler, bach-uh-ler] / ˈbætʃ lər, ˈbætʃ ə lər /

noun

1. an unmarried man.

2. a person who has been awarded a bachelor's degree.

3. a fur seal, especially a young male, kept from the breeding grounds by the older males.

4. Also called bachelor-at-arms.  a young knight who followed the banner of another.

5. Also called household knight.  a landless knight.

---

bachelor British  

/ ˈbætʃlə, ˈbætʃələ /

noun

1. 1. an unmarried man

   2. ( as modifier )

      a bachelor flat

2. 1. a person who holds the degree of Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Education, Bachelor of Science, etc

   2. the degree itself

3. Also called: bachelor-at-arms.  (in the Middle Ages) a young knight serving a great noble

4. a young male seal, esp a fur seal, that has not yet mated

---

Usage

Gender-neutral form: single person

Other Word Forms

• bachelorhood noun
• bachelorlike adjective
• bachelorly adjective
• nonbachelor noun
• prebachelor adjective

Etymology

Origin of bachelor

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English bacheler “squire, young knight,” from Old French; origin uncertain; probably from assumed Vulgar Latin baccalār(is) “tenant farmer, farm hand”; akin to Late Latin baccalāria “piece of land,” originallly plural of assumed baccalārium “dairy farm,” equivalent to assumed baccālis “pertaining to cows” (from bacca, variant of Latin vacca “cow” + -ālis + -ārium); -al ¹, -arium ( def. ) )

Example Sentences

Originally from Jacksonville, Florida, Dyszel joined UT after earning a bachelor's degree in physics from the University of North Florida.

From Science Daily

Upon completion of their bachelor of fine arts degree in May 2025, they joined full-time.

From Los Angeles Times

Mr. McGinty earned a bachelor’s degree in public relations and journalism from Utica College of Syracuse University.

From The Wall Street Journal

As teenagers, they wrestled with a constant spotlight on their dating lives and school activities as two of the world’s most eligible bachelors.

From The Wall Street Journal

Mr. Hawley is an intelligent man who completed a bachelor’s degree from Stanford, a law degree from Yale and a clerkship with Chief Justice John Roberts.

From The Wall Street Journal