bachelor

plural bachelors · alternative bachelour · alternative batcheler · alternative batchelor

1. A person, especially a man, who is socially regarded as able to marry but has not yet.

   I shall die a bachelor.

   1933, S. N. Behrman, Queen Christina

   2 more examples

   As merry and mellow an old bachelor as ever followed a hound.

   1824, Geoffrey Crayon [pseudonym; Washington Irving], Tales of a Traveller, (please specify |part=1 to 4), Philadelphia, Pa.: H[enry] C[harles] Carey & I[saac] Lea, […], →OCLC

   I knew from the beginning that I would have to move fast to keep Minnie to myself. Kansas City was full of rakehell bachelors, all of whom I had to outcourt.

   1982, Roy Wilkins, Tom Mathews, Standing Fast: The Autobiography of Roy Wilkins - Volume 10, page 79

   Synonyms: single · Antonyms: husband, wedder

   1. CanadaA bachelor apartment.

      Synonyms: single, bachelor pad · Antonyms: husband, wedder

   2. biologyA male animal without a mate during breeding season.

      Synonyms: single · Antonyms: husband, wedder

   3. obsoleteAn unmarried woman.

      A bachelor still, by keeping of your portion : And keep you not alone without a husband

      1632 (first performance), Benjamin Jonson [i.e., Ben Jonson], “The Magnetick Lady: Or, Humors Reconcil’d. A Comedy […]”, in The Workes of Benjamin Jonson. The Second Volume. […] (Second Folio), London: […] Richard Meighen, published 1640, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals)

      Synonyms: single, bacheloress, bachelorette, single · Antonyms: husband, wedder

2. The first or lowest academic degree conferred by colleges and universities; a bachelor's degree.

   Synonyms: baccalaureate, bachelor's

   1. Someone who has achieved a bachelor's degree.

      Synonyms: baccalaureate, bachelor's, Bachelor

3. obsoleteA knight who had no standard of his own but fought under the standard of another in the field.
4. obsoleteAmong London tradesmen, a junior member not yet admitted to wear the livery.
5. A kind of bass, an edible freshwater fish (Pomoxis annularis) of the southern United States.