Definition of bachelor

The origin of the word "bachelor" can be traced back to the Middle English word "bacheler," which was used to describe an unmarried man, particularly a young man who had not yet completed his studies. This term is derived from the Old French word "bacheler," which was used to describe an apprentice or student who had not yet earned a degree or completed their apprenticeship. In turn, this Old French word comes from the Late Latin word "baccalarius," which was used to describe a low-ranking church official who had earned a bachelor's degree in theology or canon law. The association between the word "bachelor" and the idea of being single is likely a result of the cultural norm during medieval times, which largely expected men to marry and start families, particularly as they completed their educations and entered adulthood. As such, being unmarried and childless into one's later years was often seen as unusual or odd, and the term "bachelor" became associated with this aspect of one's identity.