savant

[ sa-vahnt, sav-uhnt; French sa-vahn ]

/ sæˈvɑnt, ˈsæv ənt; French saˈvɑ̃ /

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See synonyms for: savant / savants on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural sa·vants

[sa-vahnts, sav-uhnts; French sa-vahn]. /sæˈvɑnts, ˈsæv ənts; French saˈvɑ̃/.

a person of profound or extensive learning; learned scholar.

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Origin of savant

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

Words nearby savant

savanna, Savannah, Savannah sparrow, Savannakhet, savanna monkey, savant, savarin, savate, save, save-all, save as you earn

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

How to use savant in a sentence

Imagine having 41 of the best runners in the world flown in for the sole purpose of pacing you to glory, and a vast team of logistics savants dedicating years of planning to help you succeed on the day.
The New Kipchoge Documentary Is a Superfluous Delight|mmirhashem|August 20, 2021|Outside Online
Most algorithms trained to accomplish a specific task—like, in DeepMind’s case, to win at games such as Go or Starcraft—are savants.
DeepMind’s Vibrant New Virtual World Trains Flexible AI With Endless Play|Jason Dorrier|August 1, 2021|Singularity Hub
The Good Doctor, ABC’s medical drama about an autistic savant who works as a surgical resident, premiered that September and became an instant hit.
Atypical Fell Short as Both Autistic Representation and Entertainment. At Least It Was Eclipsed During Its Own Time|Sarah Kurchak|July 16, 2021|Time
The autistic savant has a gallery in London and has traveled the world while creating his unforgettable images.
Do You Remember?|Sean Culligan|April 13, 2021|Ozy

In the past few years, even broadcast hits like ABC’s “The Good Doctor,” about a young surgeon with autism and savant syndrome, are unafraid to tackle these challenges.
In a rare admission, MTV says its mental-health portrayals are sometimes damaging|Steven Zeitchik|April 1, 2021|Washington Post
Like a savant, he navigates us through a tasting of three French beers, finished off by a pairing with 18-month-old comté cheese.
Look Out! There’s a Craft-Beer Revolution Taking Over France|Jeff Campagna|December 2, 2013|DAILY BEAST
She has a blog, Fox on Stocks, where the self-taught savant holds forth on the ins and outs of the market.
When Celebrities Like Mila Kunis Talk Stocks, It’s Time to Get Out of the Market|Daniel Gross|March 15, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Internet savant Aaron Swartz was found dead in his New York apartment on Friday from an apparent suicide.
The Swartz Family’s Statement and More Reactions to the Death of Aaron Swartz||January 13, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The New York Times electoral savant was said to be “controversial.”
The GOP’s Absurd Attack on Susan Rice Over Benghazi|Michael Tomasky|November 20, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Lynette becomes a CEO and she and Tom (Doug Savant) move to New York City, buy a penthouse, and have six grandchildren.
‘Desperate Housewives’: 12 Most-Memorable Moments|Maria Elena Fernandez|May 14, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The perfumer destined this engraving for the savant Vauquelin, to whom he was under obligations.
Repertory Of The Comedie Humaine, Complete, A -- Z|Anatole Cerfberr and Jules Franois Christophe
The future famous savant (Desplein) watched by his bedside at the last and closed his eyes.
Repertory Of The Comedie Humaine, Complete, A -- Z|Anatole Cerfberr and Jules Franois Christophe
She looked up to the young savant, if not as a god or hero, at least as a man far superior to his contemporaries.
Urania|Camille Flammarion
I had been thinking lately that the distinguished savant was going decidedly wrong.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 93, September 24, 1887|Various
Liszt wrote a rejoinder in which he failed to justify himself, but succeeded in giving the poor savant some hard hits.
Frederick Chopin as a Man and Musician|Frederick Niecks

British Dictionary definitions for savant

savant

/ (ˈsævənt, French savɑ̃) /

noun

a man of great learning; sage

Derived forms of savant

savante, fem n

Word Origin for savant

C18: from French, from savoir to know, from Latin sapere to be wise; see sapient

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

savant

Origin of savant

Words nearby savant

Words related to savant

How to use savant in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for savant

Derived forms of savant

Word Origin for savant