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

See Examples For:

schoolmarm

When observing public figures, there’s danger in scrutinizing off-the-cuff remarks, policing conversation like a schoolmarm.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 15, 2023

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

From Washington Times ● Feb. 20, 2023

So I would encourage you to let go of this inner schoolmarm who’s telling you that you don’t have the right to judge a translation.

From Slate ● Feb. 1, 2021

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

From New York Times ● Jan. 6, 2021

That she, a Texas schoolmarm, soon would be walking the streets of London and Paris still seemed an impossibility, yet Harry had promised it and made all the arrangements.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson