savant

Meaning

1. A person of learning, especially one who is versed in literature or science.
2. A person who is considered eminent because of their achievements.
3. A person with or without significant mental disabilities who is very gifted in one area of activity, such as playing the piano or mental arithmetic.

Synonyms

scholar

sage

philosopher

learned person

intellectual

pundit

expert

learned man

initiate

wise person

student

🧑‍🎓

sapient

thinker

lettered

highbrow

authority

prophet

scientist

🧑‍🔬

sophisticated

teacher

🧑‍🏫

tutor

wise

wise man

intelligent person

religious founder

Schoolman

medieval Schoolman

professor

boffin

bookish

bookman

connoisseur

egghead

erudite

instructor

learned

literary

literate

man of science

master

mastermind

overwise

Translations

savant

sabio

Gelehrte

Gelehrter

bilgin

alim

erudito

hakim

Wissenschaftler

🧑‍🔬

σοφός

científic

λόγιος

διακεκριμένος επιστήμονας

érudit

επιστήμονας

Pronounced as (IPA)

/sæˈvɑnt/

Etymology

Borrowed from French savant, from Latin sapiō. Doublet of sapient. Sense 3 is a clipping of idiot savant, literally ‘wise idiot’.