scholar

noun

schol·​ar ˈskä-lər How to pronounce scholar (audio)
Synonyms of scholar
1
: a person who attends a school or studies under a teacher : pupil
2
a
: a person who has done advanced study in a special field
b
: a learned person
3
: a holder of a scholarship

Synonyms of scholar

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Examples of scholar in a Sentence

She's a renowned scholar of African-American history. scholars have long debated whether there is ever such a thing as a truly selfless act
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The scholar of religion Friedrich Max Müller (1823–1900) noticed that many Vedic hymns praise different deities using the same superlatives and ascribe to them the same mythological feats. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026 The scholar Lauren Berlant coined the phrase cruel optimism to describe how hope, including hope placed in a political movement, can stand in the way of a person’s own flourishing. — Charles Finch, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026 As literary scholar Leah Price has observed, the it-narrative’s premise held special appeal for Christian missionaries, whose evangelical activities likewise hinged on social circulation. — Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2026 Fame was of prime importance to the ancient Greeks, and Wilson is the rare classical scholar who has firsthand knowledge of a public life. — ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for scholar

Word History

Etymology

Middle English scoler, from Old English scolere & Anglo-French escoler, from Medieval Latin scholaris, from Late Latin, of a school, from Latin schola school

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of scholar was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing scholar

Rhymes for scholar

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Browse Nearby Words

schola cantorum
scholar
scholarch
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Cite this Entry

“Scholar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scholar. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

scholar

noun
schol·​ar ˈskäl-ər How to pronounce scholar (audio)
1
: a person who attends a school or studies under a teacher : pupil
2
a
: a person who has done advanced study in a special area
b
: a learned person
3
: a holder of a scholarship
scholarly adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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