schoolmaster

American  

[skool-mas-ter, -mah-ster] / ˈskulˌmæs tər, -ˌmɑ stər /

noun

1. a man who presides over or teaches in a school.

2. anything that teaches or directs.

   Life can be a harsh schoolmaster.

3. a snapper, Lutjanus apodus, a food fish found in Florida, the West Indies, etc.

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verb (used with or without object)

1. to teach or direct in the capacity of schoolmaster.

schoolmaster British  

/ ˈskuːlˌmɑːstə /

noun

1. a man who teaches in or runs a school

2. a person or thing that acts as an instructor

3. a food fish, Lutjanus apodus, of the warm waters of the Caribbean and Atlantic: family Lutjanidae (snappers)

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verb

1. to be a schoolmaster

Other Word Forms

• schoolmastering noun
• schoolmasterish adjective
• schoolmasterly adjective
• schoolmastership noun

Etymology

Origin of schoolmaster

First recorded in 1175–1225, schoolmaster is from the Middle English word scolemaister. See school ¹, master

Example Sentences

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

He’s presenting as one of those British schoolmaster guys, he’s playing up to that type.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 8, 2024

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

He paused, and for a moment assumed again his air of a schoolmaster questioning a promising pupil: “How does one man assert his power over another, Winston?”

From "1984" by George Orwell