1
: an organization that provides instruction: such as
a
: an institution for the teaching of children
b
c(1)
: a group of scholars and teachers pursuing knowledge together that with similar groups constituted a medieval university
(2)
: one of the four faculties of a medieval university
(3)
: an institution for specialized higher education often associated with a university
the school of engineering
d
: an establishment offering specialized instruction
a secretarial school
driving schools
2
a(1)
: the process of teaching or learning especially at a school
(2)
: attendance at a school
(3)
: a session of a school
b
: a school building
c
: the students attending a school
also
: its teachers and students
3
: a source of knowledge
experience was his school
4
a
: a group of persons who hold a common doctrine or follow the same teacher (as in philosophy, theology, or medicine)
the Aristotelian school
also
: the doctrine or practice of such a group
b
: a group of artists under a common influence
c
: a group of persons of similar opinions or behavior
also
: the shared opinions or behavior of such a group
other schools of thought
5
: the regulations governing military drill of individuals or units
also
: the exercises carried out
the school of the soldier
schooled; schooling; schools
1
a
: to teach or drill in a specific knowledge or skill
well schooled in languages
b
: to discipline or habituate to something
school oneself in patience
2
: to educate in an institution of learning
The child was schooled at great cost to her family.
: a large number of fish or aquatic animals of one kind swimming together
schooled; schooling; schools
: to swim or feed in a school
bluefish are schooling
Synonyms
Examples of school in a Sentence
Noun (1)
one of the first schools in the country to admit girls as students
Verb (1)
schooled their children in proper etiquette for formal occasions
Recent Examples on the Web
Zoe G Phillips, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 May 2024
Lola Barba, a mother of two who grew up in Mexico City, attends a festival at her niece's school.
—Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 12 May 2024
One school of thought argues that this latest manifestation of Russian expansionist desires must be fiercely opposed.
—Richard Babcock, Chicago Tribune, 12 May 2024
Intel hires more people from ASU than any other school in the country, and there’s a shortage of people skilled in the disciplines necessary to work in these industries, according to the company.
—Benjamin Oreskes, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2024
The realty agents claimed their office colleagues have an overabundance of homebuyers for a home in their neighborhood with their schools.
—Pat Kapowich, The Mercury News, 11 May 2024
Westport High School is one of over 20 former school buildings sold by Kansas City Public Schools.
—Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 11 May 2024
When the school refused, Gutierrez helped lead a group of students who took over the president's office for several days.
—Daniel Gonzalez, USA TODAY, 11 May 2024
Officials are also focusing on workforce development within their own school systems, trying to incentivize graduates to stay in Winslow instead of moving to the Phoenix area.
—Sarah Lapidus, The Arizona Republic, 29 Apr. 2024
Nurith Aizenman, NPR, 12 May 2024
Panfish will school up and use their tails to fan out individual beds that are linked together in a honeycomb formation.
—Shaye Baker, Field & Stream, 9 May 2024
Many of the kids at Owyhee have been going to school with the same group of children for years.
—Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 8 May 2024
In and out of jail, pregnant again A judge offered Wright to participate in the drug court program, which involved multiple weekly group meetings, random drug screenings, working or going to school full-time, weekly check-ins, and 100 hours of community service.
—Greg Wehner, Fox News, 8 May 2024
Coubertin’s Vision Image Coubertin, born in Paris in 1863, was raised in an aristocratic family and schooled in classical art and literature.
—John Branch, New York Times, 2 May 2024
There were some white parents who tried to send their kids to school with me.
—Nbc Universal, NBC News, 28 Apr. 2024
Local media were provided detailed briefings by party cadres typically schooled in deep secrecy.
—Charlie Campbell, TIME, 12 Apr. 2024
He had been schooled in graphic design and was working in advertising.
—Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2024
Noun
Though not an alum of the school, Price noted that the comedian and his wife are both proud Duke parents.
—Zoe G Phillips, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 May 2024
Lola Barba, a mother of two who grew up in Mexico City, attends a festival at her niece's school.
—Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 12 May 2024
One school of thought argues that this latest manifestation of Russian expansionist desires must be fiercely opposed.
—Richard Babcock, Chicago Tribune, 12 May 2024
Intel hires more people from ASU than any other school in the country, and there’s a shortage of people skilled in the disciplines necessary to work in these industries, according to the company.
—Benjamin Oreskes, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2024
The realty agents claimed their office colleagues have an overabundance of homebuyers for a home in their neighborhood with their schools.
—Pat Kapowich, The Mercury News, 11 May 2024
Westport High School is one of over 20 former school buildings sold by Kansas City Public Schools.
—Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 11 May 2024
When the school refused, Gutierrez helped lead a group of students who took over the president's office for several days.
—Daniel Gonzalez, USA TODAY, 11 May 2024
Officials are also focusing on workforce development within their own school systems, trying to incentivize graduates to stay in Winslow instead of moving to the Phoenix area.
—Sarah Lapidus, The Arizona Republic, 29 Apr. 2024
Verb
When the day comes, Paris wants to marry a woman who's an adult — who has been to school herself.
—Nurith Aizenman, NPR, 12 May 2024
Panfish will school up and use their tails to fan out individual beds that are linked together in a honeycomb formation.
—Shaye Baker, Field & Stream, 9 May 2024
Many of the kids at Owyhee have been going to school with the same group of children for years.
—Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 8 May 2024
In and out of jail, pregnant again A judge offered Wright to participate in the drug court program, which involved multiple weekly group meetings, random drug screenings, working or going to school full-time, weekly check-ins, and 100 hours of community service.
—Greg Wehner, Fox News, 8 May 2024
Coubertin’s Vision Image Coubertin, born in Paris in 1863, was raised in an aristocratic family and schooled in classical art and literature.
—John Branch, New York Times, 2 May 2024
There were some white parents who tried to send their kids to school with me.
—Nbc Universal, NBC News, 28 Apr. 2024
Local media were provided detailed briefings by party cadres typically schooled in deep secrecy.
—Charlie Campbell, TIME, 12 Apr. 2024
He had been schooled in graphic design and was working in advertising.
—Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'school.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near school
Cite this Entry
“School.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/school. Accessed 18 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
school
1 of 3 noun1
a
: a place or establishment for teaching and learning
public schools
a music school
b
: a faculty or division within an institution for higher education devoted to teaching, study, and research in a particular area of knowledge : college
school of law
graduate school
2
a
: a session of school
missed school yesterday
b
c
: the students or students and teachers of a school
the whole school was at the assembly
3
: a group of persons having the same opinions and beliefs or accepting the same methods or leaders
also
: the shared opinions, beliefs, or methods of such a group
school
2 of 3 verb1
: to teach or drill in a specific skill or area of knowledge
well schooled in languages
2
: to discipline or make used to something
school oneself in patience
school
3 of 3 noun
: a large number of water-dwelling animals of one kind (as fish) swimming together
Etymology
Noun
Old English scōl "a place for learning," from Latin schola (same meaning), from Greek scholē "leisure, discussion, lecture, school"
Word Origin
The English word school comes from the Greek scholē. The original meaning of scholē was "leisure." To the Greeks it seemed natural that one's leisure should be spent learning and thinking. Scholē therefore came to mean not only "leisure" but also "a place for learning." Many Greeks were later employed by the Romans as teachers, and the Romans borrowed the Greek word as schola. The Latin word schola in time came into Old English as scōl.
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