Word
schoolmaster
Phoneticsschool·mas·ter, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈskuɫˌmæstɝ/
UK/skˈuːlmɑːstɐ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a male teacher in a school, especially one who is in charge of a class or a school. This word is much less common today and sounds a bit old-fashioned.
n. a male teacher or head of a school, particularly in a British or historical context. Often carries a slightly formal or archaic tone in modern usage.
Examples
“The schoolmaster stood at the front of the classroom.”
“In the nineteenth century, the schoolmaster was often the most respected figure in a small rural village.”
“The novel depicts the stern schoolmaster as a figure of both fear and quiet admiration, whose rigid discipline was seen as necessary for the moral development of the students.”
Examples
simple
“The schoolmaster stood at the front of the classroom.”
contextual
“In the nineteenth century, the schoolmaster was often the most respected figure in a small rural village.”
complex
“The novel depicts the stern schoolmaster as a figure of both fear and quiet admiration, whose rigid discipline was seen as necessary for the moral development of the students.”
Real-World Examples
“Curator Stuart Orme said: "Birching (beating with birch twigs) was quite common in the 17th Century and the birch was the symbol of the schoolmaster."
The tiny medieval building is now the Cromwell Museum.” Etymology
From Middle English skolemayster, scolemaister, scol-meister, equivalent to school + master.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/schoolmaster