pupil

noun

(anatomy) The hole in the middle of the iris of the eye, through which light passes to be focused on the retina.

One who studies under supervision of a renowned expert in their field.

(zoology) The central dark part of an ocellated spot.

(dated outside UK) A learner at a school under the supervision of a teacher.

(law, obsolete) An orphan who is a minor and under the protection of the state.

Roots

pupilluspupil- · Latin · ward, little doll

Synonyms for pupil

studentn educateen schoolboyn learnern schoolgirln studiern disciplen apprenticen scholarn traineen

Synonyms & related words for pupil

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of pupil — including student, educatee, schoolboy, learner, schoolgirl, studier. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to pupil

Explore words related to pupil — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include schoolchild, pupillary, schoolkid, teacher, schoolfellow, school, schoolmaster, miosis. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for pupil

Common synonyms for pupil include student, educatee, schoolboy, learner, schoolgirl, studier, disciple, apprentice — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does pupil come from?

The word pupil breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root pupil-, from Latin pupillus (“ward, little doll”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.