# savant

/səˈvɑnt/ (US) · /sˈævənt/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/savant
Updated: 2026-05-30

## Definition

a person who has a very high level of knowledge or skill in one specific subject. This person might also have a condition that makes them very good at one thing but not others.

For teachers: a person of exceptional knowledge or skill in a particular field. Often refers to an individual with savant syndrome, who exhibits prodigious mental abilities in a specific area despite significant developmental disabilities.

## Examples

- The young savant could solve complex math problems in seconds.
- The museum hired a savant to catalog the rare collection of 18th-century botanical prints.
- While the term often implies a genius, a clinical savant typically demonstrates extraordinary talent in a narrow domain, such as music or mathematics, while lacking basic social or cognitive skills.

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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.