school

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈskül 

1

: an organization that provides instruction: such as

a

: an institution for the teaching of children

b

: college, university

c(1)

: a group of scholars and teachers pursuing knowledge together that with similar groups constituted a medieval university

(2)

: one of the four faculties of a medieval university

(3)

: an institution for specialized higher education often associated with a university

the school of engineering

d

: an establishment offering specialized instruction

a secretarial school

driving schools

2

a(1)

: the process of teaching or learning especially at a school

(2)

: attendance at a school

(3)

: a session of a school

b

: a school building

c

: the students attending a school

also : its teachers and students

3

: a source of knowledge

experience was his school

4

a

: a group of persons who hold a common doctrine or follow the same teacher (as in philosophy, theology, or medicine)

the Aristotelian school

also : the doctrine or practice of such a group

b

: a group of artists under a common influence

c

: a group of persons of similar opinions or behavior

also : the shared opinions or behavior of such a group

other schools of thought

5

: the regulations governing military drill of individuals or units

also : the exercises carried out

the school of the soldier

school

2 of 4

verb (1)

schooled; schooling; schools

transitive verb

1

a

: to teach or drill in a specific knowledge or skill

well schooled in languages

b

: to discipline or habituate to something

school oneself in patience

2

: to educate in an institution of learning

The child was schooled at great cost to her family.

school

3 of 4

noun (2)

: a large number of fish or aquatic animals of one kind swimming together

school

4 of 4

verb (2)

schooled; schooling; schools

intransitive verb

: to swim or feed in a school

bluefish are schooling

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• academy
• seminary

Verb (1)

• teach
• educate

Choose the Right Synonym for school

teach, instruct, educate, train, discipline, school mean to cause to acquire knowledge or skill.

teach applies to any manner of imparting information or skill so that others may learn.

taught us a lot about our planet

instruct suggests methodical or formal teaching.

instructs raw recruits in military drill

educate implies development of the mind.

more things than formal schooling serve to educate a person

train stresses instruction and drill with a specific end in view.

trained foreign pilots to operate the new aircraft

discipline implies training in habits of order and precision.

a disciplined mind

school implies training or disciplining especially in what is hard to master.

schooled the horse in five gaits

Examples of school in a Sentence

Noun (1)

one of the first schools in the country to admit girls as students

Verb (1)

schooled their children in proper etiquette for formal occasions

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The brothers focused on school, worked casual jobs, and graduated college. —Charlie Campbell, Time, 26 June 2025

Niche helps students and families simplify the education journey and partners with schools and colleges to help streamline operations, build brand awareness and achieve enrollment goals. —Terina Allen, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025

Verb

Her father, Bruno Bischofberger, a Swiss art dealer, met her American mother, Christina Clifton in Zurich, and she was schooled in art history over the breakfast table. —Kate Matthams, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025

Actress Jodie Turner-Smith is schooling Joshua Jackson on the importance of a Black mother in a biracial child’s life. —Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 16 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English scole, from Old English scōl, from Latin schola, from Greek scholē leisure, discussion, lecture, school; perhaps akin to Greek echein to hold — more at scheme entry 1

Noun (2)

Middle English scole, from Middle Dutch schole; akin to Old English scolu multitude and probably to Old English scylian to separate — more at skill entry 1

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1597, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing school

• after-school
• alternative school
• approved school
• at school
• boarding school
• B-school
• charter school
• church school
• common school
• comprehensive school
• consolidated school
• correspondence school
• dame school
• day school
• dental school
• divinity school
• elementary school
• finishing school
• grade school
• grammar school
• high school
• high school reunion
• industrial school
• infant school
• in school
• intermediate school
• inter-school
• junior high school
• junior school
• law school
• magnet school
• middle school
• night school
• normal school
• nursery school
• nursing school
• old school
• old school tie
• parochial school
• play school
• preparatory school
• prep school
• primary school
• private school
• public school
• reform school
• school-age
• school board
• school bus
• school choice
• school committee
• school district
• school-leaver
• school of thought
• school run
• secondary school
• senior high school
• special school
• summer school
• Sunday school
• the old school
• trade school
• training school
• upper school
• vestibule school
• vocational school

Rhymes for school

• boule
• brule
• buhl
• cool
• drool
• fool
• ghoul
• mule
• pool
• poul
• rule
• spool

Kids Definition

school

1 of 3 noun

ˈskül 

1

a

: a place or establishment for teaching and learning

public schools

a music school

b

: a faculty or division within an institution for higher education devoted to teaching, study, and research in a particular area of knowledge : college

school of law

graduate school

2

a

: a session of school

missed school yesterday

b

: schoolhouse

c

: the students or students and teachers of a school

the whole school was at the assembly

3

: a group of persons having the same opinions and beliefs or accepting the same methods or leaders

also : the shared opinions, beliefs, or methods of such a group

school

2 of 3 verb

1

: to teach or drill in a specific skill or area of knowledge

well schooled in languages

2

: to discipline or make used to something

school oneself in patience

school

3 of 3 noun

: a large number of water-dwelling animals of one kind (as fish) swimming together

Etymology

Noun

Old English scōl "a place for learning," from Latin schola (same meaning), from Greek scholē "leisure, discussion, lecture, school"

Word Origin

The English word school comes from the Greek scholē. The original meaning of scholē was "leisure." To the Greeks it seemed natural that one's leisure should be spent learning and thinking. Scholē therefore came to mean not only "leisure" but also "a place for learning." Many Greeks were later employed by the Romans as teachers, and the Romans borrowed the Greek word as schola. The Latin word schola in time came into Old English as scōl.