bachelor
noun (countable)
UK/ˈbætʃ.əl.ər/US/ˈbætʃ.əl.ɚ/
the first or lowest academic degree conferred by universities (e.g., Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science)
Example Sentences
She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology before going on to graduate school.
Most university students aim to complete a bachelor’s degree within three to four years.
He finally received his bachelor’s diploma after dedicating countless hours to research and study.
A bachelor’s degree is a prerequisite for many professional and managerial positions.
Graduates often discover new career pathways after completing their bachelor’s programs.
Many institutions offer flexible schedules for those pursuing a bachelor’s degree while working full time, enabling them to balance academic and professional responsibilities.
Attaining a bachelor’s degree in an emerging field can open doors to cutting-edge industries, providing a competitive advantage in a rapidly evolving job market.
She proudly displayed her bachelor’s diploma in her home office, a testament to years of hard work and personal dedication.
Thesaurus
Synonyms
How to Use
Describes an unmarried adult man or someone who has earned a bachelor’s degree from a university.“Bachelor” has two primary uses. First, it describes an unmarried male—often implying someone who lives independently and is not in a marital relationship. In cultural contexts, “bachelor” can evoke an image of a single man with minimal domestic responsibilities or highlight a stage before settling down. Second, “bachelor” references an undergraduate academic degree (“He has a Bachelor of Arts in History”), pointing to completing a college or university program. In that academic sense, “bachelor’s degree” is the first level of higher education generally after secondary school.Socially, events like “bachelor parties” revolve around celebrating a man prior to marriage. Media sometimes depicts “bachelor life” as carefree or less constrained by family obligations, though experiences vary widely. In academic or professional contexts, referencing a “bachelor’s degree” signals someone’s educational credential or field of study. Always ensure your usage fits whether you’re talking about marital status (the unmarried man) or an academic qualification (the completed undergraduate program).
Alternatives
Synonyms for an unmarried man might be “single man” or “unwed male,” but these are more descriptive than “bachelor.” For degrees, you could say “undergraduate degree,” yet that broad phrase includes associate degrees. “Bachelor’s degree” is the precise term. If focusing on an unmarried woman, “bachelorette” is a parallel, though less formally recognized than “bachelor.” The unique usage of “bachelor” for academic awards typically does not have a direct synonym, aside from referencing the specific degree title (e.g., “BA,” “BS,” etc.). In short, “bachelor” remains distinct, covering two main contexts: marital status and a baseline college diploma.
Writing
When writing about a “bachelor,” clarify whether you mean a man’s marital status or an academic degree. In a social or cultural analysis, you might detail how “bachelor” status influences lifestyle or traditions like bachelor pads or parties. In formal contexts—like resumes, academic transcripts, or job applications—include the specific degree type: “He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science.” Be mindful not to confuse the two uses in the same piece without context. If referencing older texts, “bachelor” might appear in specialized historical senses (like a “bachelor knight”), so specifying the era or tradition helps avoid ambiguity.
Casual Conversation
In everyday conversation, calling someone a “bachelor” typically implies they’re an unmarried adult man. Friends might say, “He’s still a bachelor at 35,” possibly highlighting his single status or lifestyle. Chat about “bachelor weekends” or “bachelor pads” underscores that single, often carefree image. People sometimes joke about the minimal decor or simplistic cooking approach in a “bachelor apartment.” In casual talk about education, references to a “bachelor’s” come up if discussing college backgrounds—“I got my bachelor’s in marketing.” If someone says “I’m a bachelor,” context usually steers interpretation: if it’s about personal life, they’re single; if it’s about education, they might be referencing having completed an undergraduate program. Usually, though, to indicate the academic sense, people say, “I have a bachelor’s degree,” avoiding confusion with marital status.
Etymology
“Bachelor” originates from the Old French “bacheler,” describing a young knight who served under another’s banner, lacking vassals or land of his own. As feudal structures shifted, it came to mean any young man lacking rank or property. In Middle English, the notion expanded to reference an unmarried man. Over time, universities adopted the term “bachelor” to label those who completed the first tier of scholarly degrees—mirroring the idea that these graduates, like junior knights, had proven themselves but had not reached higher ‘knightly’ ranks (analogous to master’s or doctoral levels). Despite the modern distinction between an unmarried man and a degree holder, both uses trace back to that root idea of an initial or ‘unattached’ status—be it marital or academic.