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Word-loving Homo sapiens will appreciate how much there is to know about savant. For one, savant comes ultimately from the Latin word sapere (“to be wise”) by way of Middle French, where savant is the present participle of savoir, meaning “to know.” Second, savant shares roots with the English words sapient (“possessing great wisdom”) and sage (“very wise”) (as well as Homo sapiens). Finally, the term is sometimes used to refer to a person who demonstrates extraordinary knowledge in a particular subject or has an extraordinary ability to perform a particular task (such as complex mathematics) but has more limited capacities in other areas.
Examples of savant in a Sentence
Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 13 Feb. 2025
Her desperate search for a big-money mark slams her into eccentric math savant and billionaire Oz Bell (Murray).
—Lily Ford, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Feb. 2025
Her desperate search for a big-money mark slams her into eccentric math savant and billionaire Oz Bell (Bill Murray).
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 11 Feb. 2025
Associated Press statistical savant Josh Dubow reports the Chiefs scored seven touchdowns and kicked four field goals in those drives.
—Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 27 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Savant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/savant. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
savant
noun
from French savant, a form of the verb savoir "to know," from Latin sapere "to be wise, taste, have good taste" — related to insipid, sage entry 1
Medical Definition
savant
noun
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