schoolmaster
Americannoun
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a man who presides over or teaches in a school.
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anything that teaches or directs.
Life can be a harsh schoolmaster.
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a snapper, Lutjanus apodus, a food fish found in Florida, the West Indies, etc.
verb (used with or without object)
noun
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a man who teaches in or runs a school
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a person or thing that acts as an instructor
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a food fish, Lutjanus apodus, of the warm waters of the Caribbean and Atlantic: family Lutjanidae (snappers)
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of schoolmaster
First recorded in 1175–1225, schoolmaster is from the Middle English word scolemaister. See school 1, master
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In Silber’s revival, the wise schoolmaster Mr. Lundie is Widow Lundie, and the town flirt Meg Brockie is a pub owner pushing middle age.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 27, 2026
The Post likened him to Ichabod Crane, the fictional schoolmaster in the Washington Irving short story “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 17, 2025
Mr Fabius, with the air of a firm but respected schoolmaster, was able to encourage and cajole reluctant countries towards a historic compromise.
From BBC ● Nov. 1, 2021
“The Mill on the Floss” contains one of George Eliot’s sharpest caricatures in the figure of the foul schoolmaster Stelling.
From New York Times ● May 18, 2021
As Kit reached the part about the schoolmaster and his cane, to her amazement a rusty chuckle interrupted her.
From "The Witch of Blackbird Pond" by Elizabeth George Speare
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
