savant

noun

sa·​vant sa-ˈvänt How to pronounce savant (audio)
sə-,
-ˈväⁿ;
sə-ˈvant,
ˈsa-vənt
1
: a person of learning
especially : one with detailed knowledge in some specialized field (as of science or literature)
2
: a person affected with a developmental disorder (such as autism or intellectual disability) who exhibits exceptional skill or brilliance in some limited field (such as mathematics or music)
especially : autistic savant see also savant syndrome

Did you know?

Word-loving Homo sapiens will appreciate how much there is to know about savant. For one, savant comes ultimately from the Latin word sapere (“to be wise”) by way of Middle French, where savant is the present participle of savoir, meaning “to know.” Second, savant shares roots with the English words sapient (“possessing great wisdom”) and sage (“very wise”) (as well as Homo sapiens). Finally, the term is sometimes used to refer to a person who demonstrates extraordinary knowledge in a particular subject or has an extraordinary ability to perform a particular task (such as complex mathematics) but has more limited capacities in other areas.

Examples of savant in a Sentence

a savant in the field of medical ethics
Recent Examples on the Web Back in London, the birthplace of the music that propelled them, Chandra (the last standing original member) and keyboard savant Patrick Mwondela (responsible for the band’s ‘80s disco resurgence) are more passionate than ever to wax poetic about WITCH’s rise, and fall, and rightful renaissance. Tracy Kawalik, SPIN, 5 Mar. 2024 The play-calling savant who played receiver in college is always trying to find new ways to spring receivers open. Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 7 Feb. 2024 Through this lens and in his hands, a figure like Phil Spector, for instance, the twentysomething tycoon savant of early ’60s pop, might additionally be understood as a cultural figure of almost world-historical importance. Seyward Darby, Longreads, 9 Jan. 2024 November 22 to 28: Attention luxe savants: Saks is slashing prestige beauty brands that rarely go on sale by 15% off. Sarah Han, Allure, 23 Nov. 2023 Offensive glass savants: UC ranks No. 18 in offensive rebounding percentage (36.9). Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 22 Jan. 2024 His defense team now has the task of convincing a jury that their client, a quantitative savant, missed something of such importance. Sheelah Kolhatkar, The New Yorker, 25 Sep. 2023 The one that may have given him the toughest question was 11 year old sports reporter savant Jeremiah Fennell who was doing interviews for the NFL Network. Nick Wagner, Kansas City Star, 6 Feb. 2024 Solak, who is twentysomething, and looks and sounds twelve, is a savant of the inner game of football, one of the rare people who actually understand all the X’s-and-O’s stuff that the Francesas of the world wearily deprecate as less important than hard work and mental toughness. Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'savant.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French, from Middle French, from present participle of savoir to know, from Latin sapere to be wise — more at sage

First Known Use

1719, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of savant was in 1719

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Dictionary Entries Near savant

Cite this Entry

“Savant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/savant. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

savant

noun
sa·​vant sa-ˈvänt How to pronounce savant (audio)
-ˈvän;
sə-ˈvant,
ˈsav-ənt
1
2
: a person who does not have normal intelligence but who has very unusual mental abilities that other people do not have
Etymology

from French savant, a form of the verb savoir "to know," from Latin sapere "to be wise, taste, have good taste" — related to insipid, sage entry 1

Medical Definition

savant

noun
: a person affected with a developmental disorder (as autism or intellectual disability) who exhibits exceptional skill or brilliance in some limited field (as mathematics or music)
especially : autistic savant see savant syndrome

More from Merriam-Webster on savant

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