scholar

UK: /ˈskɒlə^r/ US: /ˈskɑlɚ/ ,(skol′ər)

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

schol•ar /ˈskɑlɚ/   n. [countable]

1. a person of great learning:
   a Shakespearean scholar.
2. a student.

schol•ar•ly, adj.: 

your scholarly activities in computer science.

See -schol-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

schol•ar  (skol′ər), n. 

1. a learned or erudite person, esp. one who has profound knowledge of a particular subject.
2. a student;
   pupil.
3. a student who has been awarded a scholarship.

• Late Latin, as above
• Late Latin scholāris, equivalent. to Latin schol(a) school¹ + -āris -ar¹; replacing Middle English scoler(e), Old English scolere
• bef. 1000

schol′ar•less, adj. 
Synonyms

• 1. savant.
• 2. See pupil ¹.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

scholar / ˈskɒlə/ noun

1. a learned person, esp in the humanities
2. a person, esp a child, who studies; pupil
3. a student of merit at an educational establishment who receives financial aid, esp from an endowment given for such a purpose
4. a school pupil

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French escoler, via Late Latin from Latin schola school¹

ˈscholarly adjective

ˈscholarliness noun