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pupil

[ pyoo-puhl ]

/ ˈpyu pəl /

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See synonyms for: pupil / pupils on Thesaurus.com

noun

a person, usually young, who is learning under the close supervision of a teacher at school, a private tutor, or the like; student.

Civil Law. an orphaned or emancipated minor under the care of a guardian.

Roman Law. a person under the age of puberty orphaned or emancipated, and under the care of a guardian.

OTHER WORDS FOR pupil

1 apprentice, novice.

See synonyms for pupil on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of pupil

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English pupille, from Middle French, from Latin pūpillus (masculine), pūpilla (feminine) “orphan, ward,” diminutives of pūpus “boy,” pūpa “girl”

synonym study for pupil

1. Pupil, disciple, scholar, student refer to a person who is studying, usually in a school. A pupil is one under the close supervision of a teacher, either because of youth or of specialization in some branch of study: a grade-school pupil; the pupil of a famous musician. A disciple is one who follows the teachings or doctrines of a person whom he or she considers to be a master or authority: a disciple of Swedenborg. Scholar, once meaning the same as pupil, is today usually applied to one who has acquired wide erudition in some field of learning: a great Latin scholar. A student is a person attending an educational institution or someone who has devoted much attention to a particular problem: a college student; a student of politics.

OTHER WORDS FROM pupil

pu·pil·less, adjective

Words nearby pupil

pupa, pupacide, puparium, pupate, pupfish, pupil, pupilage, pupillage, pupillarity, pupillary, Pupin

Other definitions for pupil (2 of 2)

pupil²

[ pyoo-puhl ]

/ ˈpyu pəl /

noun Anatomy.

the expanding and contracting opening in the iris of the eye, through which light passes to the retina.

Origin of pupil

1350–1400; Middle English <Latin pūpilla literally, little doll; for sense compare Greek kórē girl, doll, pupil of the eye, alluding to the tiny reflections visible in the pupils. See pupa

OTHER WORDS FROM pupil

pu·pil·less, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

MORE ABOUT PUPIL

What does pupil mean?

A pupil is a person who is learning under a teacher or instructor. In this sense, pupil is often used when the student is young but does not strictly apply to young people.

In legal terms, pupil can refer to a minor who is under the care of a legal guardian who is not one of their parents.

In anatomy, a pupil is the opening in the iris of the eye. Light passes through the pupil into the retina at the back of the eyeball, where images are received.

Example: I train my pupils to keep up on their readings by assigning them quizzes.

Where does pupil come from?

The first records of the student sense of pupil come from the 1300s. It ultimately comes from the Latin pūpillus and pūpilla, meaning “orphan” or “ward.” While not every apprentice or student is an orphan, the teacher can take a similar role as a parent or leader that helps their students learn. The first records of the anatomy sense of pupil comes from the same Latin pūpilla, which also means “little doll.”

Pupils vary from species to species, and some species do not have them at all. For example, the pupils of cats, reptiles, and foxes are thin, vertical slits that help their depth perception when they’re hunting at night. Goats’ pupils are horizontal rectangles, which increase their peripheral vision, while dolphins’ pupils are shaped like crescents to help them see light under the water.

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to pupil?

pupilless (adjective)
pupilage (noun)
pupillary (noun)

What are some synonyms for pupil?

What are some words that share a root or word element with pupil?

What are some words that often get used in discussing pupil?

How is pupil used in real life?

Pupil is a common word that is frequently used to refer to a student or the part of the eye that lets in light.

What do you think about the idea of teaching pupils in their local languages in lower primary yet they do exams in Eng. #ThursdayThoughts

— Solomon Serwanjja (@SolomonSerwanjj) July 6, 2017

The pupil of your eye expands by as much as 45% when you are looking at someone you love.

— UberFacts (@UberFacts) August 2, 2013

I'm thinking about getting goat pupil contact lenses.

— Eric Andre (@ericandre) May 11, 2016

Try using pupil!

Which of the following is NOT a synonym for pupil?

A. student
B. apprentice
C. trainee
D. teacher

How to use pupil in a sentence

In an effort to measure the profits online charter schools make, the report’s authors compared California’s per-pupil funding with fees charged for the same products in other jurisdictions.
Report: California ‘wasting’ millions of dollars funding online charter schools|Valerie Strauss|February 2, 2021|Washington Post
“He was a rebellious, difficult pupil — a boy of that age, after all, does not find it easy to stick to hours of practice,” his father wrote in an essay relayed in an email by Cai.
Fou Ts’ong, Chinese pianist who bridged East and West, dies at 86 of covid-19|Emily Langer|January 7, 2021|Washington Post
Per pupil spending in North Carolina then was well below the national average.
How a courageous Southern governor broke ranks with segregationists in 1961|John Drescher|January 1, 2021|Washington Post
While attending a series of Catholic boarding schools, he later wrote of his attraction to other boy pupils.
Daniel Cordier, French Resistance hero, dies at 100|Phil Davison|November 23, 2020|Washington Post

Teachers have fewer tools at their disposal to hold students accountable now that teachers and pupils don’t share a physical space.
Distance learning is straining parent-teacher relationships|Ashley Fetters|November 12, 2020|Washington Post
In the U.S, Allan Kaprow, an artist pupil of John Cage, came up with the word “Happening” in 1957.
The Life and Art of Radical Provocateur—and Commune Leader—Otto Muehl|Anthony Haden-Guest|September 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The compilation also brought the Nazi-riffic Apt Pupil and leach-tastic The Body (aka Stand By Me) to the silver screen.
20 Things You Didn’t Know About 'The Shawshank Redemption'|Bill Schulz|August 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Per-pupil funding has fallen and cuts in local schools have alarmed teachers and parents.
Sam Brownback’s Kansas Catastrophe|Patricia Murphy|July 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Bryan is very interested in World War II, which was a very big part of X-Men, Valkyrie, and Apt Pupil.
Simon Kinberg on ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past,’ ‘The Fantastic Four’ Reboot, and Black Superheroes|Marlow Stern|May 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The value of leisure was one subject on which both teacher and pupil agreed.
College Kids Should Major in Leisure|Nick Romeo|May 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Now first we shall want our pupil to understand, speak, read and write the mother tongue well.
The Salvaging Of Civilisation|H. G. (Herbert George) Wells
Was a pupil of Caspar Netscher of Heidelberg, whose little pictures are of fabulous value.
Women in the fine arts, from the Seventh Century B.C. to the Twentieth Century A.D.|Clara Erskine Clement
It is well known that Prud'hon and his pupil painted many pictures in collaboration.
Women in the fine arts, from the Seventh Century B.C. to the Twentieth Century A.D.|Clara Erskine Clement
She was a pupil of Kullak's, too, but it is four years since she left him, and she has been concertizing a good deal.
Music-Study in Germany|Amy Fay
This led to her painting portraits of various members of the royal family while she was still a pupil of De Zichys.
Women in the fine arts, from the Seventh Century B.C. to the Twentieth Century A.D.|Clara Erskine Clement

British Dictionary definitions for pupil (1 of 2)

pupil¹

/ (ˈpjuːpəl) /

noun

a student who is taught by a teacher, esp a young student

civil law Scots law a boy under 14 or a girl under 12 who is in the care of a guardian

Word Origin for pupil

C14: from Latin pupillus an orphan, from pūpus a child

British Dictionary definitions for pupil (2 of 2)

pupil²

/ (ˈpjuːpəl) /

noun

the dark circular aperture at the centre of the iris of the eye, through which light enters

Word Origin for pupil

C16: from Latin pūpilla, diminutive of pūpa girl, puppet; from the tiny reflections in the eye

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for pupil

pupil

[ pyōō′pəl ]

The opening in the center of the iris through which light enters the eye.

Cultural definitions for pupil

pupil

The seemingly black, central opening in the iris of the eye, through which light enters.

pupil

OTHER WORDS FOR pupil

Origin of pupil

synonym study for pupil

OTHER WORDS FROM pupil

Words nearby pupil

Other definitions for pupil (2 of 2)

Origin of pupil

OTHER WORDS FROM pupil

MORE ABOUT PUPIL

What does pupil mean?

Where does pupil come from?

Did you know … ?

How is pupil used in real life?

Try using pupil!

Words related to pupil

How to use pupil in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for pupil (1 of 2)

Word Origin for pupil

British Dictionary definitions for pupil (2 of 2)

Word Origin for pupil

Scientific definitions for pupil

Cultural definitions for pupil