# scout

/ˈskaʊt/ (US) · /skˈaʊt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/scout
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. military/information gatherer

noun · CEFR B2

a person sent ahead of a group to gather information about an enemy or a new area.

For teachers: a person, often a soldier, dispatched to gather intelligence regarding enemy positions or terrain.

- The army sent a scout ahead to see if the bridge was safe to cross.
- The cavalry scout returned under the cover of darkness to report that the enemy forces had retreated across the valley.

### 2. talent seeker

noun · CEFR B2

someone whose job is to look for talented people, like athletes or musicians, to join a team or company.

For teachers: a person employed to identify and recruit promising talent, particularly in professional sports or the entertainment industry.

- A talent scout from a major record label watched her perform at the club.
- The baseball scout spent the entire summer travelling between small-town colleges to find a pitcher with a reliable fastball.

### 3. youth organisation member

noun · CEFR A2

a member of a group for young people that teaches outdoor skills and character.

For teachers: a member of an international youth movement, such as the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts, focused on character development and outdoor proficiency.

- He joined the scouts when he was ten to learn how to camp and hike.
- The local scout troop organised a weekend expedition to teach the younger members basic navigation and first aid.

### 4. Oxford university cleaner

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Dialect

a person who cleans rooms at one of the colleges at Oxford University.

For teachers: a domestic cleaner or housekeeper employed by a constituent college of Oxford University.

- The college scout came in every morning to empty the bins and tidy the study.
- In the traditional Oxford system, the scout is responsible for the maintenance of student sets within a specific staircase.

Usage: This term is specific to Oxford University; Cambridge uses the term 'bedder'.

### 5. to search or explore

verb · CEFR B1

to look around an area to find information or to find something you need.

For teachers: to explore or examine a specific area or situation in order to gather information.

- We should scout the area for a good place to set up our tent.
- The director spent weeks scouting locations across the desert to find the perfect backdrop for the film's opening scene.

Usage: Often used with the preposition 'out' or 'for'.

## Examples

- The team sent a scout to check the road ahead.
- A talent scout from the record label attended the small concert to look for new singers.
- The lead scout returned to the encampment under the cover of darkness, providing the commander with vital details regarding the enemy's defensive fortifications and supply lines.

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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.