bachelor

Bachelor is a term with several related but distinct meanings. In everyday language, it refers to an adult male who is not married. The word has historical roots in Old French and Latin, and its use has evolved as social norms around marriage have changed. In modern statistics and demographics, “bachelor” can describe sociodemographic groups or be contrasted with married, widowed, or divorced statuses.

Bachelor’s degree: An undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a prescribed course of study. Programs typically require three to four years of full-time study, though lengths vary by country and field. Degree names commonly include Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BS), and other professional or specialized variants such as Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) or Bachelor of Education (BEd).

The Bachelor (TV series): An American reality dating program that premiered in 2002 on ABC. A single man, the bachelor, dates multiple contestants in pursuit of a desirable partner, with episodes culminating in eliminations and a finale that may lead to a proposal. The franchise has spawned numerous international adaptations and spin-offs, including The Bachelorette, Bachelor in Paradise, and other formats.