# pupil

/ˈpjupəɫ/ (US) · /pjˈuːpəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pupil
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. a student

noun · CEFR A2 · British English

a child or young person who is being taught at a school.

For teachers: a learner, typically a child or adolescent, who is under the direct supervision of a teacher in a primary or secondary school setting.

- The teacher asked the pupils to open their books to page forty-two.
- The primary school has over five hundred pupils, many of whom travel from neighbouring villages to attend classes.

Usage: In British English, 'pupil' is common for school-age children, whereas 'student' is more common for university level.

Teaching tip: While 'student' is becoming more universal, 'pupil' remains the standard term in British educational contexts for younger children.

### 2. part of the eye

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

the small black circle in the middle of your eye that changes size to let in light.

For teachers: the contractile opening in the centre of the iris of the eye, which regulates the amount of light reaching the retina.

- Your pupils get larger when you walk into a dark room.
- The doctor shone a small light into the patient's eyes to check if the pupils reacted normally.

Usage: Usually used in the plural when referring to both eyes.

### 3. a follower of an expert

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

someone who studies a specific skill or subject under a famous or very talented person.

For teachers: an individual who studies under the personal guidance of a distinguished expert, artist, or philosopher.

- The famous painter had many pupils who later became successful themselves.
- As a young man, he was a devoted pupil of the great philosopher, spending years studying his mentor's complex theories.

Teaching tip: This sense is more common in historical or artistic contexts than in everyday modern conversation.

## Examples

- The teacher asked every pupil to open their books.
- The school has over five hundred pupils enrolled this year, ranging from ages five to eleven.
- When you step into a dark room, your pupils dilate to allow more light to reach the retina, improving your vision in low-light conditions.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.