schoolmarm

noun

school·​marm ˈskül-ˌmä(r)m 

variants or schoolma'am

ˈskül-ˌmäm, 

-ˌmam 

1

: a woman who is a schoolteacher especially in a rural or small-town school

2

: a person who exhibits characteristics attributed to schoolteachers (such as strict adherence to arbitrary rules)

schoolmarmish

ˈskül-ˌmä(r)-mish 

adjective

Examples of schoolmarm in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

No ruler-wielding schoolmarm can impart the urgency of learning the way hunger can. — John Phillips, Outdoor Life, 14 May 2026

The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board took note of the hard-right’s distress, let down its tightly wound schoolmarm bun and snickered right out loud. — Pat Beall, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 July 2025

The search for a missing schoolmarm is the focus of an escape room experience at the Lanesfield School, a historic one-room schoolhouse in Edgerton. — Beth Lipoff, Kansas City Star, 12 Mar. 2025

University deans, schoolmarms and human resources managers penned dress codes outright forbidding the garment or relegating it to certain areas. — The Conversation, Fortune, 30 Sep. 2023

Visitors can relive a school experience from the early 20th century, complete with a schoolmarm and an outhouse. — Jshortavon, cleveland, 23 July 2023

In the music video, Gavin plays the titular cheerleader who is smitten with a girl in the program; meanwhile, Bridgers plays the pink-haired schoolmarm in charge, while popular gay comedian Caleb Hearon plays a conflicted gay coach. — Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2022

Word History

Etymology

school + marm, alteration of ma'am

First Known Use

1831, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for schoolmarm

• alarm
• disarm
• forearm
• gendarme
• nonfarm
• rearm
• arm
• charm
• farm
• harm
• firearm
• underarm

Kids Definition

schoolmarm

noun

school·​marm ˈskül-ˌmä(r)m 

variants or schoolma'am

-ˌmäm 

-ˌmam

: a woman who is a schoolteacher especially in a rural or small-town school