savant

noun

sa·​vant sa-ˈvänt 

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.

Synonyms

• pundit
• sage
• scholar

Example Sentences

a savant in the field of medical ethics

Recent Examples on the Web

She’ll be joined there by veteran baseball savant Sean McAdam. —Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 6 May 2023

The style savant elevated his date's look by wrapping the fabric into a strapless tulle gown. —Zoey Lyttle, Peoplemag, 1 May 2023

Spicuzza recounted that friends of Gross would compare him to the 1980s fictional television character and improvisational savant MacGyver based on his ability to repair boats. —Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 17 Apr. 2023

Many chimed in with their opinions, including uniform savant Paul Lukas, more commonly known around social media as @UniWatch. —Sportsday Staff, Dallas News, 17 Apr. 2023

Not only is Swift a savant for world-building, but she’s perfected the ability to translate those worlds into the live experience. —Waiss David Aramesh, Rolling Stone, 18 Mar. 2023

Bradley, while still a savant in the outfield, didn’t hit enough to stay in the lineup and was ultimately designated for assignment. —Julian Mcwilliams, BostonGlobe.com, 17 Feb. 2023

For the fashion savant, designers like Jeremy Scott, Arianne Phillips, Arnaud Vaillant, and Sébastien Meyer are also featured in the book in a series of essays and Q&As. —Juliana Ukiomogbe, ELLE, 8 Apr. 2023

His character is a friend to Ted, as well as a sounding board and a kind of oddball savant. —Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 15 Mar. 2023

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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

Phrases Containing savant

• autistic savant
• idiot savant
• savant syndrome

• autistic savant
• idiot savant
• savant syndrome

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Kids Definition

savant

noun

sa·​vant sa-ˈvänt 

-ˈvän;

sə-ˈvant,

ˈsav-ənt

1

: scholar sense 2b

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

sa·​vant sa-ˈvänt, sə-, -ˈvant 

: 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