idiot savant
[ id-ee-uh t sa-vahnt, suh-vant, sav-uh nt; French ee-dyoh sa-vahn ]
/ ˈɪd i ət sæˈvɑnt, səˈvænt, ˈsæv ənt; French i dyoʊ saˈvɑ̃ /
noun, plural id·i·ot sa·vants, French id·i·ots sa·vants [ee-dyoh sa-vahn] /i dyoʊ saˈvɑ̃/. Psychiatry.
a mentally defective person with an exceptional skill or talent in a special field, as a highly developed ability to play music or to solve complex mathematical problems mentally at great speed.
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Nearby words
idiosyncratic, idiot, idiot board, idiot box, idiot card, idiot savant, idiot strings, idiot tape, idiot's delight, idiot-proof, idiotic
Origin of idiot savant
1925–30; < French: literally, learned idiot
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
British Dictionary definitions for idiot savant
idiot savant
/ (ˈiːdjəʊ sæˈvɑ̃, ˈɪdɪət ˈsævənt) /
noun plural idiots savants (ˈiːdjəʊ sæˈvɑ̃) or idiot savants
a person with learning difficulties who performs brilliantly at some specialized intellectual task, such as giving the day of the week for any calendar date past or present
Word Origin for idiot savant
C19: from French: knowledgeable idiot
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Medicine definitions for idiot savant
idiot savant
[ să-vänt′ ]
n. pl. idiot savants
A mentally retarded person who exhibits genius in a highly specialized area, such as mathematics.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.