pupil

UK: /ˈpjuːpɪl/ US: /ˈpjupəl/ ,(pyo̅o̅′pəl)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

pu•pil¹ /ˈpyupəl/   n. [countable]

1. Education a person, usually young, who is learning from or being taught by a teacher at school or a private tutor;
   student.

pu•pil² /ˈpyupəl/   n. [countable]

1. the opening in the iris of the eye that narrows and widens as more or less light passes through to the retina.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

pu•pil¹  (pyo̅o̅′pəl), n. 

1. Education a person, usually young, who is learning under the close supervision of a teacher at school, a private tutor, or the like;
   student.
2. Law [Civil Law.] an orphaned or emancipated minor under the care of a guardian.
3. Law [Roman Law.] a person under the age of puberty orphaned or emancipated, and under the care of a guardian.

• Latin pūpillus (masculine), pūpilla (feminine) orphan, ward, diminutives of pūpus boy, pūpa girl
• Middle French
• Middle English pupille 1350–1400

pu′pil•less, adj. 
Synonyms

• 1. apprentice, novice.
  Pupil, disciple, scholar, student refer to a person who is studying, usually in a school. A pupil is one under the close supervision of a teacher, either because of youth or of specialization in some branch of study:
  a grade-school pupil; the pupil of a famous musician.
  A disciple is one who follows the teachings or doctrines of a person whom he or she considers to be a master or authority:
  a disciple of Swedenborg.
  Scholar, once meaning the same as pupil, is today usually applied to one who has acquired wide erudition in some field of learning:
  a great Latin scholar.
  A student is a person attending an educational institution or someone who has devoted much attention to a particular problem:
  a college student; a student of politics.

pu•pil²  (pyo̅o̅′pəl), n. [Anat.]

1. the expanding and contracting opening in the iris of the eye, through which light passes to the retina. See diag. under eye. 

• Latin pūpilla literally, little doll; for sense compare Greek kórē girl, doll, pupil of the eye, alluding to the tiny reflections visible in the pupils. See pupa
• Middle English 1350–1400

pu′pil•less, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

pupil / ˈpjuːp^əl/ noun

1. a student who is taught by a teacher, esp a young student
2. a boy under 14 or a girl under 12 who is in the care of a guardian

Etymology: 14th Century: from Latin pupillus an orphan, from pūpus a child

pupil / ˈpjuːp^əl/ noun

1. the dark circular aperture at the centre of the iris of the eye, through which light enters

Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin pūpilla, diminutive of pūpa girl, puppet; from the tiny reflections in the eye