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
• schoolmastership
  noun
• schoolmasterish
  adjective
• schoolmasterly
  adjective

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Etymology

Origin of schoolmaster

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

schoolmaster

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

Her mother was born the daughter of a Methodist schoolmaster but was orphaned and taken in by a Muslim man who prayed five times a day.

From New York Times ● Jun. 30, 2023

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

With the war’s end on the horizon, FDR used the occasion to quote “my old schoolmaster, Dr. Peabody … that the trend of civilization itself is forever upward.”

From Washington Post ● Nov. 27, 2020

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

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