dunce

Dunce is a term used to refer to a person who is slow to learn or lacks intellectual ability. As an adjective, dunce describes behavior or attitudes associated with such a person. The word is considered pejorative and is generally avoided in formal contexts.

The term originates from the medieval philosopher Duns Scotus (c. 1266–1308). In early modern scholastic culture, followers of his ideas were associated with his name, and over time the word shifted from referring to a particular school of thought to labeling a person who learns slowly. By the 16th century, dunce had entered English as a general insult for dull-witted individuals, rather than a descriptor of allegiance to Duns Scotus.

Dunce caps were cone-shaped hats used in classrooms as a punishment or public shaming device for students deemed slow learners. Popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the practice reflected historical attitudes toward intelligence and discipline. Today, the dunce cap is widely criticized as humiliating and inappropriate, and it is rarely used in modern educational settings.

In contemporary usage, dunce remains a pejorative term and is generally avoided in respectful or formal discourse. It may appear in discussions of language history, education history, or literature as a historical reference or for illustrative purposes, but it is typically regarded as an offensive label when applied to individuals.