scoutmaster

American  

[skout-mas-ter, -mah-ster] / ˈskaʊtˌmæs tər, -ˌmɑ stər /

noun

1. the leader or officer in charge of a band of scouts. scout.

2. the adult leader of a troop of Boy Scouts.

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scoutmaster British  

/ ˈskaʊtˌmɑːstə /

noun

1. a former name for Scout Leader

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Etymology

Origin of scoutmaster

First recorded in 1570–80; scout ¹ + master

Example Sentences

Downing’s abilities would catch Oliver Cromwell’s attention, leading to his appointment as scoutmaster general—the head of Parliament’s intelligence operations.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 11, 2026

He and Orin Rowe, the troop’s assistant scoutmaster, stayed behind to make a plan.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 5, 2025

Ben Burns has been the scoutmaster of a troop of disabled scouts in Dallas since 2010.

From New York Times • Mar. 24, 2023

“Before I could get another word out or the scoutmaster could say anything, his scouts turned on him,” Starkovich said.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 12, 2022

The scoutmaster had given them a long lecture about disrupting nature—by the end of it, Jonah felt guilty about how many protozoans he’d probably killed.

From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix