Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A stupid person; a dolt.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun [capitalized] A disciple or follower of John Duns Scotus (see etymology); a Dunce-man; a Scotist.
  • noun Hence A caviling, sophistical person; a senseless caviler.
  • noun A dull-witted, stupid person; a dolt; an ignoramus.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun One backward in book learning; a child or other person dull or weak in intellect; a dullard; a dolt.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun One backward in book learning; a child or other person dull or weak in intellect; a dullard; a dolt.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a stupid person; these words are used to express a low opinion of someone's intelligence

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[After John Duns Scotus, whose writings and philosophy were ridiculed in the 16th century.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

1530, eponymous, from John Duns Scotus (circa 1265–1308).

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Examples

Comments

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  • Originally an epithet for followers of John Duns Scotus, who were ridiculed as enemies of learning by 16th-century humanists.

    December 16, 2007

  • That's a sandworm, you idiot!

    January 30, 2008

  • SCOTUS also a dunce? Discuss.

    December 6, 2023