schoolmaster

noun school·mas·ter \ ˈskül-ˌma-stər \

Updated on: 24 Apr 2018

Definition of schoolmaster

1 : a man who teaches school

2 : one that disciplines or directs

3 : a reddish-brown edible snapper (Lutjanus apodus) of the tropical Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico

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schoolmasterish

play \ˈskül-ˌma-stə-rish\ adjective

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schoolmasterly

adjective

See schoolmaster defined for English-language learners

See schoolmaster defined for kids

Recent Examples of schoolmaster from the Web

An aged schoolmaster, Dr. Wagner, sweet-natured and a bit of a bore, comes every day to tutor young Peter.

— rachel aviv, The New Yorker, "Walter Kempowski’s Epic Novel of Germany in Collapse," 21 Mar. 2016
Paul Bettany plays Osborne, an older officer and former schoolmaster, admired by all, who’s called Sir by his subordinates and Uncle by his peers.

— joe morgenstern, WSJ, "‘Journey’s End’ Review: A Small Beauty About the Great War," 15 Mar. 2018
Both William and the schoolmaster then escorted the stoic George to his classroom.

— elise taylor, Vogue, "See an Adorable Yet Apprehensive Prince George Arrive For His First Day of School," 7 Sep. 2017
Armed with a quill pen and conveniently disguised as a schoolmaster, the 21-year-old infiltrated the British encampment in Manhattan in September 1776 for several days and gathered intelligence on the British troops.

— caitlin fitz, WSJ, "Lives Lost for Their Countries," 11 July 2017
Harvard University (whose first schoolmaster, Nathaniel Eaton, was a slave owner) didn't allow women to receive degrees there until 1963 — 327 years after Harvard was established.

— lincoln anthony blades, Teen Vogue, "Colleges and Universities are Becoming Less White, and Republicans Like Them Less," 20 July 2017
That story begins with Will in Lancashire, working as a put-upon schoolmaster.

— kerry reid, chicagotribune.com, "'Her Majesty's Will' is a heady, silly romp that works," 7 June 2017
An author ought to write for the youth of his own generation, the critics of the next, and the schoolmasters of ever afterward.

— sam tanenhaus, New Republic, "F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Shimmering Visions," 31 May 2017
Just listen to the town’s venerable schoolmaster, or the dashing journalist from the big city, or the gnarly jail keeper, whose speech shifts regularly into wild, increasingly feral approximations of standard English.

— ben brantley, New York Times, "Review: ‘The Terrifying’ Has Paranoia and the Feeling Something’s Wrong," 19 Mar. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'schoolmaster.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of schoolmaster

13th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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SCHOOLMASTER Defined for English Language Learners

schoolmaster

noun

Definition of schoolmaster for English Language Learners

: a man who teaches in a school

SCHOOLMASTER Defined for Kids

schoolmaster

noun school·mas·ter \ ˈskül-ˌma-stər \

Definition of schoolmaster for Students

: a man who is in charge of a school or teaches in a school

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schoolmaster

Definition of schoolmaster

schoolmasterish

schoolmasterly

Recent Examples of schoolmaster from the Web

First Known Use of schoolmaster

SCHOOLMASTER Defined for English Language Learners

schoolmaster

Definition of schoolmaster for English Language Learners

SCHOOLMASTER Defined for Kids

schoolmaster

Definition of schoolmaster for Students

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schoolmaster

Definition of schoolmaster

schoolmasterish

schoolmasterly

Recent Examples of schoolmaster from the Web

First Known Use of schoolmaster

SCHOOLMASTER Defined for English Language Learners

schoolmaster

Definition of schoolmaster for English Language Learners

SCHOOLMASTER Defined for Kids

schoolmaster

Definition of schoolmaster for Students

Learn More about schoolmaster

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