padawan
noun
pad·a·wan
ˈpa-də-ˌwän 
variants
or Padawan
plural padawans or Padawans
informal
: a young person especially when regarded as naïve, inexperienced, etc.
Note: This use of padawan has its origin in the fictional universe of the Star Wars franchise, where the term padawan refers to aspiring Jedi knights whose education is overseen by a Jedi master.
… rookie quarterback Mac Jones, who is still a passing Padawan, not a Jedi knight.—
Christopher L. Gasper
—often used humorously as a form of addressChristopher L. GasperIs it even possible to get good quality smart lights for less? There are ways, young padawan. There are ways.—Michelle Rae Uy
Michelle Rae UyExamples of padawan in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The series centers Jedi master Sol (Lee Jung-jae) and his former padawan Osha (Amandla Stenberg), who are brought together after years of estrangement because Jedi masters are being murdered.
—Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 10 July 2024
Stenberg plays a former padawan who now works against the Jedi.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 5 May 2024
In true Star Wars fashion, kids are called younglings or padawans (both gender-neutral terms).
—Deanne Revel, Parents, 22 May 2024
The new series stars Lee Jung-jae and Amandla Stenberg, the former playing Sol, a revered Jedi master, and the latter playing Mae, his one-time padawan, who’s grown into a dangerous warrior.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 19 Mar. 2024
As relieved as the padawan was to see Beq, fans were equally shocked to see that the man playing Grogu's savior was none other than Jar Jar Binks himself, Ahmed Best.
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 12 May 2023
All told, though, the season has offered plenty to delight fans, including a detour involving Hayden Christensen reprising the role of Anakin Skywalker, for the first time encountering his former padawan in a live-action setting.
—Brian Lowry, CNN, 20 Sep. 2023
The Force-sensitive teenager became an apprentice to Kanan Jarrus, the leader of the Spectres and a Jedi who survived Order 66 as a young padawan himself.
—Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2023
Members of the Ghost crew included Ahsoka, Mandalorian warrior Sabine Wren (voiced by Tiya Sircar), pilot Hera Syndulla (Vanessa Marshall), Jedi Knight Kanan Jarrus (Freddie Prinze Jr.), and Kanan's padawan, Ezra Bridger (Taylor Gray).
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 23 Aug. 2023
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Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 10 July 2024
Stenberg plays a former padawan who now works against the Jedi.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 5 May 2024
In true Star Wars fashion, kids are called younglings or padawans (both gender-neutral terms).
—Deanne Revel, Parents, 22 May 2024
The new series stars Lee Jung-jae and Amandla Stenberg, the former playing Sol, a revered Jedi master, and the latter playing Mae, his one-time padawan, who’s grown into a dangerous warrior.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 19 Mar. 2024
As relieved as the padawan was to see Beq, fans were equally shocked to see that the man playing Grogu's savior was none other than Jar Jar Binks himself, Ahmed Best.
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 12 May 2023
All told, though, the season has offered plenty to delight fans, including a detour involving Hayden Christensen reprising the role of Anakin Skywalker, for the first time encountering his former padawan in a live-action setting.
—Brian Lowry, CNN, 20 Sep. 2023
The Force-sensitive teenager became an apprentice to Kanan Jarrus, the leader of the Spectres and a Jedi who survived Order 66 as a young padawan himself.
—Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2023
Members of the Ghost crew included Ahsoka, Mandalorian warrior Sabine Wren (voiced by Tiya Sircar), pilot Hera Syndulla (Vanessa Marshall), Jedi Knight Kanan Jarrus (Freddie Prinze Jr.), and Kanan's padawan, Ezra Bridger (Taylor Gray).
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 23 Aug. 2023
Dictionary Entries Near padawan
Cite this Entry
“Padawan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/padawan. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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