students

IPA/ˈstjuː.dənt/
KK[stˈudənts]IPA/ˈstuː.dənt/

students — noun

  • studentssingular
  • studentsesplural

1. someone enrolled at a university or college, working toward a degree or qualific

1.nounA1
Definition

someone enrolled at a university or college, working toward a degree or qualification

Example

Fatima and her cousin are both students at Cairo University.

students at [university name]

The university offers free bus passes to full-time students.

full-time students

Common collocations
  • university student
  • college student
  • medical student
  • law student
  • graduate student
  • full-time student
  • mature student
  • overseas student
  • first-year student
Synonyms
  • undergraduate

    specifically a student who has not yet finished a first degree

  • scholar

    more formal; often implies advanced academic work or research

  • learner

    broader term for anyone gaining knowledge, not necessarily enrolled in a course

Antonyms
  • teacher

    the person who instructs students

  • lecturer

    a university teacher who gives lectures to students

Usage Note

In British English, 'student' typically refers to university-level learners, while school-age children are more often called 'pupils'. American English uses 'student' for all levels.

Common Mistakes

I am student at university.
I am a student at university.
'student' is a countable noun and needs an article.

2. a person who goes to school to learn, especially a child or teenager

2.nounA1
Definition

a person who goes to school to learn, especially a child or teenager

Example

The students in Ms. Chen's class built a model volcano for the science fair.

students in [teacher's] class

Every morning, students line up in the courtyard before the first bell rings.

Common collocations
  • school student
  • primary school student
  • high school student
  • new student
  • exchange student
  • student teacher
Synonyms
  • pupil

    more common in British English for children at school

  • schoolchild

    specifically a child attending school, not a teenager or adult

  • learner

    broader term; does not imply being in a school

Antonyms
  • teacher

    the person who teaches students in a school

Usage Note

In British English, 'pupil' is more common than 'student' for school-age children. American English uses 'student' for all ages.

Common Mistakes

She is student at my school.
She is a student at my school.
remember the article 'a' before the countable noun.

3. a person who studies a subject deeply out of personal interest rather than as pa

3.nounB2
Definition

a person who studies a subject deeply out of personal interest rather than as part of formal education

Example

Bjorn and his friends are dedicated students of jazz piano in Stockholm.

dedicated students of [subject]

At dawn, the bird hide fills with serious students of wetland ecology, binoculars trained on the reeds.

serious students of [subject]

Common collocations
  • keen student of
  • serious student of
  • dedicated student of
  • student of human nature
Synonyms
  • enthusiast

    emphasises passion and excitement about a subject

  • devotee

    suggests stronger, often lifelong commitment

  • follower

    implies less active study — more about keeping up with developments

Usage Note

Always followed by 'of' + the subject area. Unlike senses 1 and 2, this meaning does not imply enrolment in a school or university — it describes personal devotion to learning a topic.

Common Mistakes

He is a student in history.
He is a student of history.
use 'of', not 'in', for this meaning.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Student is the most general term for anyone enrolled in formal education, especially at university level. Pupil is more common in British English for school-age children and carries a sense of being under a teacher's direct guidance. Scholar is more formal and often implies academic excellence or research — a scholar is usually an advanced student or an expert. Learner is the broadest term: anyone acquiring knowledge or a skill, whether in a classroom or not; it lacks the institutional link that 'student' carries. Undergraduate refers specifically to a student who has not yet completed a first degree, distinguishing them from postgraduates. In everyday use, 'student' is the safest choice for anyone attending a university or college.

pupil ↗scholar ↗learner ↗undergraduate ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • student life
  • student body
  • student loan
  • fellow student
  • former student

Prepositions

  • student of
  • student at

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

From Latin studēre 'to be eager, to apply oneself', via Old French estudiant, the present participle of estudier 'to study'. The word entered English in the late 14th century with the meaning 'person engaged in study, one who pursues knowledge'. The modern link to formal schooling became fixed by the 16th century.

First known use

15th century

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1