bachelor

1 of 2

noun

bach·​e·​lor ˈbach-lər How to pronounce bachelor (audio) ˈba-chə- How to pronounce bachelor (audio)
Synonyms of bachelornext
1
: a young knight who follows the banner of another
2
: a person who has received a degree from a college, university, or professional school usually after four years of study
bachelor of arts
also : the degree itself
received a bachelor of laws
3
a
: an unmarried man
He chooses to remain a bachelor.
b
: a male animal (such as a fur seal) without a mate during breeding time
bachelordom
ˈbach-lər-dəm, 
ˈba-chə- How to pronounce bachelor (audio)
noun
bachelorhood
ˈbach-lər-ˌhu̇d, 
ˈba-chə- How to pronounce bachelor (audio)
noun

bachelor

2 of 2

adjective

1
: suitable for or occupied by a single person
a bachelor apartment
2
: unmarried
bachelor women
bachelor parents

Examples of bachelor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
And graduate programs must show their alumni earn more than people with a bachelor’s degree in similar fields. — Todd Wallack, Washington Post, 30 June 2026 The report also found higher scam rates among lower-income adults, people of color and people without bachelor’s degrees. — Samantha Elkins, NBC news, 30 June 2026
Adjective
Looks like someone's ready to enter the post-bachelor period of his life. — Brendan Morrow, The Week, 13 June 2022 Pumpkin, who lost her elderly partner, convinced Harris to forego his bachelor ways in the name of love. — Mallory Hughes, CNN, 7 Dec. 2020 See All Example Sentences for bachelor

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English bacheler "knight lacking retainers, squire, young man (especially an unmarried one), person holding the lowest university degree," borrowed from Anglo-French, going back to Medieval Latin *baccalāris, variant of baccalārius, bachelārius "serf without land living in the lord's household, vassal lacking a fief, knight without retainers, young clerk, student," of obscure origin

Adjective

attributive use of bachelor entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1840, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bachelor was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing bachelor

Browse Nearby Words

Bachelet
bachelor
bachelor's
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bachelor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bachelor. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

bachelor

noun
bach·​e·​lor
ˈbach-(ə-)lər
1
: a person who has received the lowest degree given by a college, university, or professional school
bachelor of arts
also : the degree itself
2
a
: an unmarried man
b
: an unmated male animal
bachelorhood
-ˌhu̇d
noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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