scholar

American  

[skol-er] / ˈskɒl ər /

noun

1. a learned or erudite person, especially one who has profound knowledge of a particular subject.

   Synonyms:

   savant

2. a student; pupil.

3. a student who has been awarded a scholarship.

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scholar British  

/ ˈskɒlə /

noun

1. a learned person, esp in the humanities

2. a person, esp a child, who studies; pupil

3. a student of merit at an educational establishment who receives financial aid, esp from an endowment given for such a purpose

4. a school pupil

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Related Words

See pupil ¹.

Other Word Forms

• nonscholar noun
• nonscholarly adjective
• scholarless adjective
• scholarliness noun
• scholarly adjective

Etymology

Origin of scholar

First recorded before 1000; from Late Latin scholāris, equivalent to Latin schol(a) school ¹ + -āris -ar ¹; replacing Middle English scoler(e), Old English scolere, from Late Latin, as above

Example Sentences

Mr. Gilley is a professor of political science at Portland State University, a presidential scholar at the New College of Florida, and author of “The Case for Colonialism.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026

"This bill doesn't just create problems... it throws our lives out of order completely," said PhD scholar Vaibhav Das, who identifies as non‑binary.

From Barron's • Mar. 24, 2026

"What it does is highlight some of the lack of transparency," says economist Alison Sexton Ward, a senior scholar at USC.

From BBC • Mar. 23, 2026

But as a scholar of the Gulf, I believe that the targeting of energy facilities is close to a worst-case outcome for regional states.

From Salon • Mar. 21, 2026

It was Werfel’s job to host the elfin emissary in the city, to take the scholar in as a guest in his own home.

From "The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge" by M.T. Anderson and Eugene Yelchin

Related Words

• academic
• doctor
• intellectual
• philosopher
• professor
• scientist
• student
• teacher