Bachelor

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈbæt͡ʃ.ə.lə(ɹ)/

Definitions

1. An unmarried man | a person who holds an academic degree from a college or university awarded after completing an undergraduate course of study
2. A man who has not married | An individual who has completed a college undergraduate program | A single male who holds a degree from a university and is not in a marital relationship
3. A man who has never entered into marriage; someone who possesses an undergraduate degree from a higher education institution; an individual who remains unmarried while having achieved a certain level of academic attainment

Etymology: The term originally referred to a young knight or a novice in arms during the medieval period. In the 12th century, "bachelor" was used in Old French as "bacheler," denoting a knight of the lowest rank, often someone who had not yet acquired a fief or land. This martial sense reflected a stage in a young nobleman's career, standing apart from fully established knights or lords. By the late Middle Ages, the word's meaning broadened beyond the battlefield to signify a young man who was unmarried and not yet fully established in society. This shift likely stemmed from the analogy between a young knight without land and a young man without a family. The term also came to be associated with academic achievement: a "bachelor" degree is the initial level of university qualification, marking a novice scholar who has completed preliminary studies but not yet advanced to higher ranks like a master or doctor. The academic usage traces back to the medieval universities of Europe, where "bachelor" referred to a student who had completed the first degree but had not attained full mastery of a subject. This usage entered English in the 14th century, influenced by Latin "baccalaureus," which is itself a loanword from Old French. The exact origin of the Latin term is uncertain, but it may have been a medieval invention echoing the French usage tied to youth and beginner status. Over time, the word's social meaning as an unmarried man became dominant in English, especially by the 17th century. This sense aligns with the idea of someone who has not yet "settled down" or established a family, much like the earlier sense of a young knight or scholar not yet fully established in their role. Despite these shifts, the term retains a thread of its original meaning — a person at an initial stage before full maturity or responsibility.

Synonyms: single man, unmarried man, man, gentleman, suitor

Antonyms: married man, husband, partner, spouse, fiance