Bachelor originally referred to men of inferior status in professions so demanding they precluded marriage. Much later, Victorian matchmakers appropriated the term and added eligible, for an unmarried man blessed with financial and social inducements, and confirmed, for any who wanted to remain that way.

What does it mean when a man says he is a bachelor?

A bachelor is a man who is not and has never been married.

Why is it called a bachelor?

Answer: The word bachelor is derived from the Medieval Latin baccalarius and originally referred to someone of low rank in the feudal hierarchy. Over time, the meaning was extended to denote persons of subordinate position in other systems, including those holding a preliminary degree from a college or university.

What do you call a single man?

Single men are often simply referred to as bachelors. The English language has more terms for single, unwed women. Single women are sometimes called bachelorettes, especially in festive contexts in American English. However, the historic term for unwed women is spinster.