scholar
gb/skˈɑlɚ/ us/skˈɑlɚ/
B2
English
~ 8800
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
entity
1
academic expert or learned person
A very educated person who studies one subject deeply, usually at a university, and often writes books or articles about it.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a scholar of [subject]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use “scholar” to mean any “student.” In modern English, “scholar” usually means an expert or academic, not just a person who goes to school. Use “student” or “pupil” for general learners, and “scholar” for highly educated specialists.
Synonyms
academic (Often used for someone whose job is teaching and researching at a university; “scholar” slightly more strongly emphasizes deep learning and expertise.)
|
researcher (Focuses on the activity of doing research; “scholar” includes both research and broad, deep knowledge.)
Antonyms
layperson (A person who is not trained or specially educated in a particular subject, the opposite of a scholar in that field.)
|
nonexpert (Highlights the lack of special knowledge, contrasting with a scholar’s recognized expertise.)
Collocations
leading scholar
|distinguished scholar
|Biblical scholar
|legal scholar
|Shakespearean scholar
|scholar of [field]
Themes
education
|work
|science
|culture
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She is a leading scholar of medieval history at the university.
- Many scholars argue that the text was written much later than we once believed.
- The conference brought together scholars from all over the world.
- As a literary scholar, he has published several books on modern poetry.
- The museum hired a classical scholar to advise on the new exhibit.
Learner examples
- He is a well-known scholar of Japanese history.
- Many scholars study how language changes over time.
- The book was written by a scholar at Oxford University.
- Scholars often spend many years reading and writing about one topic.
- The school invited a famous scholar to give a talk.
Noun
C1
entity
2
student with a scholarship
A student who gets money or special support to study because of good results or need, usually through a formal scholarship.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a [program] scholar at [institution]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with the general ‘expert’ meaning. In phrases like “Rhodes Scholar” or “Fulbright scholar,” it means a funded student, not necessarily a famous expert. Context with named programs or funding usually signals this sense.
Synonyms
scholarship student (More transparent and informal; directly states that the student studies with a scholarship, while “scholar” can sound more official or part of a title.)
Antonyms
self-funded student (A student who pays for their own studies, contrasting with a scholar whose studies are paid for by a scholarship.)
Collocations
Rhodes scholar
|Fulbright scholar
|graduate scholar
|scholar at [university]
|overseas scholar
Themes
education
|money
|work
|finance
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She was named a Rhodes Scholar and will study at Oxford next year.
- As a Fulbright scholar, he conducted research in Brazil for a year.
- The university supports international scholars with housing and a living allowance.
- Each year the foundation selects ten new scholars to receive full tuition.
- He is a scholar at the medical school, focusing on global health policy.
Learner examples
- She is a scholar at a famous university in the United States.
- He became a Rhodes Scholar after finishing his degree.
- The school gives money to help its scholars pay for books.
- The program chooses only a few scholars each year.
- Many scholars must keep good grades to keep their scholarship.
Noun
literary
C1
entity
3
studious or able learner
A person, often a child, who is good at school work and learning; a very good student.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a good scholar
Common mistake:
Learners may think this use is common in modern speech. In current everyday English, people usually say “good student” instead of “good scholar”; this sense now sounds formal, literary, or old-fashioned.
Synonyms
good student (Everyday phrase for a student who does well; “scholar” sounds more formal or old-fashioned and can suggest natural ability as well as effort.)
Antonyms
poor scholar (Common collocation meaning someone who is not good at studying; contrasts with a scholar in the sense of an able learner.)
Collocations
good scholar
|poor scholar
|young scholar
|diligent scholar
Themes
education
|abilities
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Although he was a poor scholar at school, he later became a successful businessman.
- Their daughter is a fine young scholar and loves mathematics.
- Teachers agreed that he was a natural scholar who needed more challenging work.
- She was not a brilliant scholar, but she was very hard-working.
- In his youth he was no scholar, preferring sports to books.
Learner examples
- He was a poor scholar when he was a child.
- Their son is a young scholar who loves to read.
- At school she was not a strong scholar, but she tried hard.
- The teacher says I am a good scholar in English.
- As a boy he was no scholar, but he liked music.
Grammar
Dictionary form
scholar
IPA
GB/skˈɑlɚ/
US/skˈɑlɚ/
Syllables & stress
schol - ar (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (schol)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: scholar
- Plural: scholars
Word family
Forms
scholars
noun
Core family
scholarly
adjective C1
scholarship
noun B1
Negative and opposite forms
unscholarly
adjective
Advanced or less common
scholastic
adjective
Expressions
a gentleman and a scholar
1/ə d͡ʒˈɛntəlmən ˈænd ə skˈɑlɚ/
idiom
informal
man who is polite and educated
A humorous, friendly way to praise a man as both very nice and very intelligent or educated.
Examples
- Thanks for helping me move—you're a gentleman and a scholar!
- "You paid for my lunch? You're a gentleman and a scholar," he joked.
- They called him a gentleman and a scholar after he volunteered to mentor new students.
Rhodes Scholar
1/ɹˈoʊdz skˈɑlɚ/
fixed phrase
formal
recipient of Rhodes Scholarship
A student who wins a very famous scholarship to study at the University of Oxford in the UK.
Examples
- He was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford in the early 2000s.
- Many Rhodes Scholars go on to have important careers in public service.
scholar in residence
1/skˈɑlɚ ˈɪn ɹˈɛzɪdəns/
fixed phrase
formal
visiting scholar at an institution
An expert or academic who is invited to work, teach, or do research at a school, company, or other institution for a set time.
Examples
- She served as a scholar in residence at the art museum for two years.
- The college appointed a scholar in residence to develop new public lecture programs.