dunce
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of dunce
1520–30; after John Duns Scotus, whose writings were attacked by the humanists as foolish
Explanation
A dunce is a dummy — someone who isn't smart. You might be tempted to call your little brother a dunce when he walks out the door with his shoes on the wrong feet. It's not nice to call someone a dunce, though you might call yourself one when you study the wrong chapter before a big history test or get pulled over for yet another speeding ticket. The word dunce comes from a thirteenth century Scottish philosopher, John Duns Scotus, whose resistance to new ideas and mystical beliefs inspired opponents to equate his followers, the "Duns disciples," to "dullards." Later, some teachers made children wear pointed paper "dunce caps" when they misbehaved.
Vocabulary lists containing dunce
"Marriage is a Private Affair" by Chinua Achebe
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Eleven
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Stella by Starlight
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
When the team spurred the flies to start making the nanobody against Dunce, levels of the protein plummeted and the insects became dumber—they had a harder time learning to avoid the odor.
From Science Magazine • May 10, 2018
When I'm introduced to a Dinky or a Dunce, or read about people called Bing and Bong, it seems almost normal People here often have the same Christian name as their parents.
From BBC • Mar. 27, 2011
Some Congressmen dubbed the idea "Dunce Pack," and became even more skeptical when it was revealed that three of the five members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff opposed the scheme.
From Time Magazine Archive
Dense Pack, known to its detractors as "Dunce Pack," is expected to meet with lots of resistance on Capitol Hill, where many lawmakers think it is an extravagant plan of dubious merit.
From Time Magazine Archive
And the second tyme we came to New Colege, affter we hade declarede your injunctions, we fownde all the gret quadrant court full of the leiffes of Dunce, the wynde blowing them into evere corner.
From Notes and Queries, Vol. III, Number 86, June 21, 1851 A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Geneologists, etc. by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
