idiot savant

noun

idiot sa·​vant ˈi-dē-ət-sə-ˈvänt  -ˈvant  ˈē-ˌdyō-sä-ˈväⁿ 

plural idiots savants ˈi-dē-əts-sə-ˈvänt(s)  -ˈvant(s)  ˈē-ˌdyō-sä-ˈväⁿ(z)  or idiot savants ˈē-ˌdyō-sä-ˈväⁿ(z) 

1

dated, now offensive : savant sense 2

2

: a person who is highly knowledgeable about one subject but knows little about anything else

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, learned idiot

First Known Use

1870, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

idiot savant

noun

idiot sa·​vant ˈē-ˌdyō-sä-ˈväⁿ; ˈid-ē-ət-sə-ˈvänt, -ˈvant 

plural idiots savants -ˌdyō-sä-ˈväⁿ(z); -əts-sə-ˈvänt(s), -ˈvant(s)  or idiot savants

dated, now offensive : savant