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

The problem is that—thanks in part to Niccol’s reputation as a turnaround savant—the shares already price in a successful recovery.

From The Wall Street Journal

This hire is either a masterstroke that fuels the Trojans’ return to glory — or the point of no return for a head coach desperate to prove he’s not just a one-dimensional offensive savant.

From Los Angeles Times

“He’s a total savant,” Mayer explained to Guitar World.

From The Wall Street Journal

He’s a total savant,” John Mayer told Guitar World magazine in 2017.

From Los Angeles Times

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