The pupils of a school are the children who go to it.
Many secondary schools in Wales have over 1,000 pupils.
Eleanor was a reluctant, anxious pupil.
2. countable noun [with poss]
A pupil of a painter, musician, or other expert is someone who studies under that expert and learns his or her skills.
...the only drawing firmly attributed to Cesare Magni (1511-1534), a pupil of Leonardoda Vinci. [+ of]
3. countable noun
The pupils of your eyes are the small, round, black holes in the centre of them.
More Synonyms of pupil
pupil in British English1
(ˈpjuːpəl)
noun
1.
a student who is taught by a teacher, esp a young student
2. civil law, Scots law
a boy under 14 or a girl under 12 who is in the care of a guardian
Word origin
C14: from Latin pupillus an orphan, from pūpus a child
pupil in British English2
(ˈpjuːpəl)
noun
the dark circular aperture at the centre of the iris of the eye, through which light enters
Word origin
C16: from Latin pūpilla, diminutive of pūpa girl, puppet; from the tiny reflections in the eye
pupil in American English1
(ˈpjupəl)
noun
1.
a person, esp. a young person, under the supervision of a teacher or tutor, as in school
2. Civil
a minor under the care of a guardian
SYNONYMY NOTE: pupil1 is applied either to a child in school or to a person who is under the personal supervisionof a teacher [Heifetz was a pupil of Leopold Auer]; student is applied either to one attending an institution above the elementary level or toone who is making a study of a particular subject [a student of social problems]; scholar, orig. equivalent to , pupil1, is now usually applied to one who has general erudition or who is highly versedin a particular branch of learning [a linguistics scholar]
Word origin
ME pupille < MFr < L pupillus, pupilla, orphan, ward, dim. of pupus, boy, pupa, girl: see pupa
pupil in American English2
(ˈpjupəl)
noun
the contractile circular opening, apparently black, in the center of the iris of the eye
Word origin
Fr pupille < L pupilla, dim. of pupa (see pupil1 & pupa): from one's image, like a tiny doll, seen reflected in another's eye
COBUILD Collocations
pupil
able pupil
bright pupil
disadvantaged pupil
disruptive pupil
expel a pupil
fellow pupil
primary pupil
secondary pupil
select pupils
unruly pupil
Examples of 'pupil' in a sentence
pupil
We need schools for pupils who are academic and those who are practical.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They just look like any other school pupils out on their bikes during the school holidays.
The Sun (2016)
Cops summoned reinforcements as mayhem involving pupils as young as 12 raged for hours.
The Sun (2016)
PARENTS blasted a teacher for sending pupils motivational cards containing a glaring spelling error.
The Sun (2016)
Last week the government published statistics suggesting that pupils attending the colleges performed less well than expected at GCSEs.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We will continue to offer support to the family, his fellow pupils and teachers at this very difficult time.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I would like to thank my former employers, pupils and their parents for their sympathy and understanding.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Kazakhstan did better than England in the maths test for 14-year-olds and was only two points behind in the maths test for younger pupils.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
When he visits schools he tests pupils on their times tables.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
They said that the changes would jeopardise the education of pupils from poor backgrounds.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The quality of school a pupil attended.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It all becomes too much for the youngest pupil when it is her turn on the catwalk.
The Sun (2012)
Staff report that former pupils are now growing veg and many have dropped a couple of stone.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Three fifths of secondary pupils do not have a school lunch.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Only pupils at independent schools may currently take a single science.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The eyes are better pupils and more willing than the ears.
Christianity Today (2000)
Pupils who attend get three sets of school uniform each year.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Now the present pupils have enjoyed the rewards he offers a large cast.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The morale of teachers and pupils shot up.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Our pupils and students leave schools and universities after an incredibly narrow diet of education compared with their international counterparts.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Some were appointed without a formal interview, including former pupils and their relatives.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Younger pupils will transfer to other Sheffield schools.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The significance for these pupils' secondary education is clear.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Word lists with
pupil
eye, Scots law terms
In other languages
pupil
British English: pupil /ˈpjuːpl/ NOUN
schoolchild The pupils of a school are the children who go to it.
...schools with over 1000 pupils.
American English: pupil learner
Arabic: تِلْمِيذ
Brazilian Portuguese: aluno
Chinese: 学生
Croatian: učenik
Czech: žák oko
Danish: elev
Dutch: leerling oog
European Spanish: pupilo
Finnish: pupilli
French: élève
German: Pupille
Greek: μαθητής
Italian: alunni
Japanese: 生徒 learner
Korean: 학생
Norwegian: pupill
Polish: źrenica oko
European Portuguese: aluno
Romanian: elev
Russian: ученик
Latin American Spanish: pupila
Swedish: pupill
Thai: นักเรียน
Turkish: gözbebeği
Ukrainian: учень
Vietnamese: học sinh
British English: pupil /ˈpjuːpl/ NOUN
eye The pupils of your eyes are the small, round, black holes in the centre of them.
The pupils of her eyes widened.
American English: pupil eye
Arabic: إِنْسَانُ العَيْن
Brazilian Portuguese: pupila
Chinese: 瞳孔
Croatian: zjenica
Czech: panenka oko
Danish: pupil
Dutch: pupil
European Spanish: pupila
Finnish: oppilas
French: pupille
German: Schüler
Greek: κόρη ματιού
Italian: pupille
Japanese: 瞳孔 eye
Korean: 눈동자
Norwegian: elev
Polish: uczeń uczeń
European Portuguese: pupila
Romanian: pupilă
Russian: зрачок
Latin American Spanish: alumno
Swedish: elev
Thai: ช่องตาดำ
Turkish: öğrenci
Ukrainian: зіниця
Vietnamese: đồng tử
All related terms of 'pupil'
day pupil
a pupil at a boarding school who attends lessons during the day but does not sleep at the school
out-pupil
a student sent to a different school than the one he or she would normally attend
able pupil
The pupils of a school are the children who go to it.
exit pupil
the smallest cross section of the beam of light from the eyepiece of a telescope through which all the light from the eyepiece passes. Its diameter is equal to the ratio of the focal length of the eyepiece to the focal ratio of the telescope
pupil nurse
a nurse who is still undergoing medical training
pupil power
the influence of or the increased status of the beliefs or actions of pupils
bright pupil
The pupils of a school are the children who go to it.
fellow pupil
The pupils of a school are the children who go to it.
former pupil
someone who used to attend a particular school or be a student of a particular teacher
primary pupil
The pupils of a school are the children who go to it.
pupil teacher
a young person who plans to be a teacher and who spends part of his or her time in preliminary education undertaking teaching duties under the supervision of the head-teacher
unruly pupil
The pupils of a school are the children who go to it.
secondary pupil
The pupils of a school are the children who go to it.
disruptive pupil
The pupils of a school are the children who go to it.
expel a pupil
The pupils of a school are the children who go to it.
disadvantaged pupil
The pupils of a school are the children who go to it.
sixth-form pupil
(in England and Wales ) the most senior class in a secondary school to which pupils , usually above the legal leaving age, may proceed to take A levels, retake GCSEs, etc
teacher-pupil ratio
the number of teachers relative to the number of pupils in a particular school
Chinese translation of 'pupil'
pupil
(ˈpjuːpl)
n(c)
(= student) 学(學)生 (xuésheng) (名, míng)
[of eye]瞳孔 (tóngkǒng)
1 (noun)
Definition
a student who is taught by a teacher
a school with over 1,000 pupils
Synonyms
student
She's a former student of the school.
scholar
She could be a good scholar if she didn't let her mind wander so much.
schoolboy or schoolgirl
schoolchild
Opposites
teacher
,
tutor
,
schoolteacher
,
master or mistress
,
schoolmaster or schoolmistress
2 (noun)
Goldschmidt became a pupil of the composer Franz Schreker.
Synonyms
learner
a new aid for younger children or slow learners
student
a passionate student of history
follower
disagreements between followers of the two organizations
trainee
novice
I'm a novice at these things. You're the professional.
beginner
I am a complete beginner to bird-keeping.
apprentice
I started off as an apprentice and worked my way up.
disciple
a major intellectual figure with disciples throughout Europe
protégé
Klimt's young protégé, Egon Schiele
neophyte (formal)
The book is a wonderfully stimulating read for both neophytes and wine buffs.
tyro
a tyro journalist
catechumen
Opposites
coach
,
trainer
,
instructor
,
guru
Additional synonyms
in the sense of apprentice
Definition
someone who works for a skilled person for a fixed period in order to learn his or her trade
I started off as an apprentice and worked my way up.
Synonyms
trainee,
student,
pupil,
novice,
beginner,
learner,
neophyte (formal),
tyro,
probationer
in the sense of beginner
I am a complete beginner to bird-keeping.
Synonyms
novice,
student,
pupil,
convert,
recruit,
amateur,
initiate,
newcomer,
starter,
trainee,
apprentice,
cub,
fledgling,
learner,
freshman,
neophyte (formal),
tyro,
probationer,
greenhorn (informal),
novitiate,
newbie (slang),
tenderfoot,
proselyte
in the sense of disciple
Definition
a follower of the doctrines of a teacher
a major intellectual figure with disciples throughout Europe
Synonyms
follower,
student,
supporter,
pupil,
convert,
believer,
partisan,
devotee,
apostle,
adherent,
proselyte,
votary,
catechumen
Synonyms of 'pupil'
pupil
Explore 'pupil' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of follower
Definition
a supporter, such as of a sport or team
disagreements between followers of the two organizations
Synonyms
supporter,
fan,
representative,
convert,
believer,
admirer,
backer,
partisan,
disciple,
protagonist,
devotee,
worshipper,
apostle,
pupil,
cohort (US),
adherent,
or woman or person">henchman or woman or person,
groupie (slang),
habitué,
votary
in the sense of neophyte
Definition
a beginner
The book is a wonderfully stimulating read for both neophytes and wine buffs.
Synonyms
novice,
student,
pupil,
recruit,
amateur,
beginner,
trainee,
apprentice,
disciple,
learner,
tyro,
probationer,
novitiate,
proselyte,
catechumen
in the sense of novice
Definition
a beginner
I'm a novice at these things. You're the professional.
Synonyms
beginner,
pupil,
amateur,
newcomer,
trainee,
apprentice,
learner,
neophyte (formal),
tyro,
probationer,
newbie (slang),
proselyte
in the sense of protégé
Definition
a person who is protected and helped by another
Klimt's young protégé, Egon Schiele
Synonyms
charge,
student,
pupil,
ward,
discovery,
dependant
in the sense of scholar
Definition
a pupil
She could be a good scholar if she didn't let her mind wander so much.