bachelors

Bachelors, in common usage, refers to men who are not married. The term is often contrasted with married men and with widowers or divorced men. The social status of being a bachelor has varied across cultures and historical periods, influenced by marriage norms, economic conditions, and gender roles. In contemporary demographics, the proportion of single men changes with age and region, reflecting broader societal trends.

Beyond individual status, "bachelor" appears in cultural and sociological contexts such as bachelor households, urban single living arrangements, and bachelor culture in some media. However, interpretations of bachelorhood are diverse and not universally tied to a particular lifestyle or moral judgment; legal rights and social expectations differ by jurisdiction.

In academia, a bachelor's degree is an undergraduate credential awarded after completing a prescribed program of study, typically lasting three to four years. Degree titles include bachelor of arts (BA) and bachelor of science (BS or BSc), among others. These programs prepare students for professional practice or further study and may require general education, major-specific coursework, and a capstone or internship.

Historically, the term bachelor derives from Latin baccalaureus and entered European universities in the medieval period to denote a young aspirant or apprentice. The modern use recognizes two distinct senses: a single man and an undergraduate degree, which can sometimes cause confusion in casual usage.