What does "bachelor" mean?
A person, especially a man, who is socially regarded as able to marry, but has not yet.
Bachelor
/ˈbæt͡ʃ.ə.lə(ɹ)/ noun
noun ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A person, especially a man, who is socially regarded as able to marry, but has not yet.
- Grammar: bachelor is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: unmarried man, a single, baccalaureate, baccalaureate.
- Useful contrasts: conjoint, fiancé, helpmates.
- Usage evidence: Many times, a hen-pecked husband doesn't know his problems until he talks to a happy bachelor.
How to use "bachelor"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "bachelor" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "bachelor" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "bachelor" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "bachelor" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "bachelor" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "unmarried man" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "bachelor", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A person, especially a man, who is socially regarded as able to marry, but has not yet.
"As merry and mellow an old bachelor as ever followed a hound."
- 2 a man who has never been married wordnet
- 3 The first or lowest academic degree conferred by colleges and universities; a bachelor's degree.
- 4 a knight of the lowest order; could display only a pennon wordnet
- 5 Someone who has achieved a bachelor's degree.
Show 5 more definitions
- 6 A bachelor apartment. Canada
- 7 An unmarried woman. obsolete
"A bachelor still, by keeping of your portion : And keep you not alone without a husband"
- 8 A knight who had no standard of his own, but fought under the standard of another in the field. obsolete
- 9 Among London tradesmen, a junior member not yet admitted to wear the livery. obsolete
- 10 A kind of bass, an edible freshwater fish (Pomoxis annularis) of the southern United States.
Verb
- 1 lead a bachelor's existence wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Many times, a hen-pecked husband doesn't know his problems until he talks to a happy bachelor."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "bachelor"?
Common synonyms include: unmarried man, a single, baccalaureate, baccalaureate, baccalaureus, bach.
How do you use "bachelor" in a sentence?
Many times, a hen-pecked husband doesn't know his problems until he talks to a happy bachelor.
How do you pronounce "bachelor"?
Pronounced /ˈbæt͡ʃ.ə.lə(ɹ)/.
Etymology
From Middle English bacheler, from Anglo-Norman and Old French bacheler (modern French bachelier), from Medieval Latin baccalārius, baccalāris (compare Tuscan baccalare (“squire”)).