savant

American  

[sa-vahnt, sav-uhnt, sa-vahn] / sæˈvɑnt, ˈsæv ənt, saˈvɑ̃ /

noun

plural

savants

1. a person of profound or extensive learning; learned scholar.

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savant British  

/ ˈsævənt, savɑ̃ /

noun

1. a man of great learning; sage

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Other Word Forms

• savante noun

Etymology

Origin of savant

1710–20; < French: man of learning, scholar, old present participle of savoir to know ≪ Latin sapere to be wise; sapient

Example Sentences

AI savants’ greatest strength may be their ability to tell the difference between the to-do’s that robo assistants improve and those that are better done by hand.

From The Wall Street Journal

Young Jim showed an early gift for mathematics that bordered on savant territory.

From MarketWatch

Denver Broncos linebacker and tackling savant Alex Singleton has long set a positive example for young football players in Southern California.

From Los Angeles Times

Zemeckis, who co-wrote the screenplay with Bob Gale, must have been as much of a madman savant as Christopher Lloyd’s Doc Brown to compress so much plot into every frame.

From Los Angeles Times

When AI savants are infused with the experience of seasoned professionals, innovation cycles collapse even further.

From The Wall Street Journal