schoolmarm

American  

[skool-mahrm] / ˈskulˌmɑrm /

noun

Older Use.

1. a female schoolteacher, especially of the old-time country school type, popularly held to be strict and priggish.

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schoolmarm British  

/ ˈskuːlˌmɑːm /

noun

1. a woman schoolteacher, esp when considered to be prim, prudish, or old-fashioned

2. any woman considered to be prim, prudish, or old-fashioned

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Other Word Forms

• schoolmarmish
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of schoolmarm

1835–45, variant of schoolma'am

Example Sentences

But she is still a substitute teacher, squirming to be the best schoolmarm she can be.

From Washington Times • Feb. 20, 2023

DeBose, who is Afro-Latina, plays town schoolmarm Emma Tate, who most strongly resembles Marian from The Music Man and Anna from The King and I—roles that have historically been played by white actresses.

From Slate • Sep. 6, 2021

Ms. Barrymore, as an executive producer, weighs in on everything, down to her chic schoolmarm costumes.

From New York Times • Jan. 6, 2021

One of her most memorable roles was in Brooks’ “Blazing Saddles,” as Harriet Johnson, a schoolmarm who is among the residents of a Western town offended when a Black sheriff is appointed.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 2, 2020

Now Amelia looked like a schoolmarm who had caught a child in mischief.

From "Lyddie" by Katherine Paterson