Single vs. Bachelor — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 21, 2024
Single refers to a marital status, while bachelor denotes an unmarried man, often emphasizing freedom or lifestyle.
Difference Between Single and Bachelor
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Being single is a term that applies to anyone who is not currently married or in a long-term partnership. It spans all genders and ages, reflecting a broad spectrum of individuals and their relationship statuses. On the other hand, a bachelor specifically refers to an unmarried man. While the term "single" is neutral, focusing solely on marital status, "bachelor" can carry connotations of lifestyle, often suggesting a man who is not only unmarried but also enjoys certain freedoms or a particular way of living associated with being single.
The term "single" is often used in formal and informal contexts to describe a person's relationship status without implying any further details about their life or choices. It's a straightforward descriptor that can be applied whether someone has never been married, is divorced, or is widowed. Conversely, "bachelor" is sometimes used in a more casual or cultural context, not just to signify that a man has never been married, but also to hint at a lifestyle choice that prioritizes personal freedom, social life, and flexibility over the commitments typically associated with marriage.
In legal and demographic documents, the distinction between single and bachelor is clear-cut, with "single" being the preferred term to denote someone's marital status without reference to gender. However, in social contexts, being a bachelor may imply a choice to remain unmarried and an enjoyment of the social life and independence this status affords. This distinction underscores the cultural nuances that the term "bachelor" embodies beyond the simple fact of being unmarried.
When discussing housing or invitations, "single" might refer to anyone who lives alone or who is not in a cohabiting relationship, regardless of gender. The term does not imply anything about the person's lifestyle or preferences outside of their relationship status. On the other hand, "bachelor" can evoke images of a specific type of dwelling, like a bachelor pad, which is often thought to reflect a certain aesthetic or lifestyle geared towards single men, emphasizing leisure and minimal domestic commitments.
Regarding societal expectations and stereotypes, singles can face a variety of perceptions based on age, gender, and culture. For example, older singles might encounter different societal expectations or judgments than younger singles. Bachelors, in particular, might be stereotyped based on the assumption that they prefer a life of independence and casual relationships over long-term commitment, though this does not apply to all unmarried men.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Not married or in a long-term partnership
An unmarried man, often highlighting lifestyle
Gender Application
Applies to all genders
Specifically refers to men
Connotations
Neutral term, focuses on relationship status
Can imply a lifestyle choice or freedom
Usage Context
Both formal and informal contexts
Often informal, with cultural nuances
Societal Perceptions
Varies widely based on demographic factors
Often associated with independence and social life
Compare with Definitions
Single
Not married or in a committed relationship.
She marked single on her tax return.
Bachelor
Often associated with a specific social or living arrangement.
His bachelor pad was a frequent spot for gatherings.
Single
Refers to one not engaged in a long-term partnership.
Being single allowed her to focus on her career.
Bachelor
Reflects a man's status of not being married.
He was one of the most eligible bachelors in town.
Single
A term used in demographics to describe marital status.
The survey categorized respondents as married, single, or divorced.
Bachelor
A term suggesting a man's enjoyment of single life.
As a bachelor, he enjoyed spontaneous travel.
Single
An individual not currently in a romantic partnership.
He's been single since moving to the city.
Bachelor
An unmarried man, often with connotations of a certain lifestyle.
The bachelor party was planned for next Saturday.
Single
A status denoting independence in personal life.
After years of being single, she appreciated her freedom.
Bachelor
Sometimes used to imply a preference for freedom over commitment.
The lifestyle of a bachelor suited him well.
Single
Only one; not one of several
The kingdom was ruled over by a single family
A single red rose
Bachelor
A bachelor is a man who is not and has never been married.
Single
Consisting of one part
The studio was a single large room
Bachelor
A man who is not married.
Single
Free from duplicity or deceit; ingenuous
A pure and single heart
Bachelor
A man who has never been married.
Single
An individual person or thing rather than part of a pair or a group.
Bachelor
A man who is not married and is not involved in a serious romantic relationship.
Single
A hit for one run.
Bachelor
A person who has completed the undergraduate curriculum of a college or university and holds a bachelor's degree.
Single
(especially in tennis and badminton) a game or competition for individual players, not pairs or teams.
Bachelor
A male animal that does not mate during the breeding season.
Single
A system of change-ringing in which one pair of bells changes places at each round.
Bachelor
A young knight in the service of another knight in feudal times.
Single
Choose someone or something from a group for special treatment
One newspaper was singled out for criticism
Bachelor
A person, especially a man, who is socially regarded as able to marry, but has not yet.
Single
Thin out (seedlings or saplings)
Hand hoes are used for singling roots
Bachelor
The first or lowest academical degree conferred by universities and colleges; a bachelor's degree.
Single
Reduce (a railway track) to a single line
The South Western line was singled west of Salisbury
Bachelor
Someone who has achieved a bachelor's degree.
Single
Hit a single
Cohen singled to centre
Bachelor
(Canada) A bachelor apartment.
Single
Not accompanied by another or others; solitary.
Bachelor
(obsolete) An unmarried woman.
Single
Consisting of one part, aspect, or section
A single thickness.
A single serving.
Bachelor
(obsolete) A knight who had no standard of his own, but fought under the standard of another in the field.
Single
Having the same application for all; uniform
A single moral code for all.
Bachelor
(obsolete) Among London tradesmen, a junior member not yet admitted to wear the livery.
Single
Consisting of one in number
She had but a single thought, which was to escape.
Bachelor
A kind of bass, an edible freshwater fish (Pomoxis annularis) of the southern United States.
Single
Not divided; unbroken
A single slab of ice.
Bachelor
A man of any age who has not been married.
As merry and mellow an old bachelor as ever followed a hound.
Single
Separate from others; individual and distinct
Every single child will receive a gift.
Bachelor
An unmarried woman.
Single
Having individual opponents; involving two individuals only
Single combat.
Bachelor
A person who has taken the first or lowest degree in the liberal arts, or in some branch of science, at a college or university; as, a bachelor of arts.
Single
Honest; undisguised
A single adoration.
Bachelor
A knight who had no standard of his own, but fought under the standard of another in the field; often, a young knight.
Single
Wholly attentive
You must judge the contest with a single eye.
Bachelor
In the companies of London tradesmen, one not yet admitted to wear the livery; a junior member.
Single
Designed to accommodate one person or thing
A single bed.
Bachelor
A kind of bass, an edible fresh-water fish (Pomoxys annularis) of the southern United States.
Single
Not married or involved in a romantic relationship
Once he knew she was single, he asked her to go out.
Bachelor
A man who has never been married
Single
Relating to a state of being unmarried or uninvolved in a romantic relationship
Enjoys the single life.
Bachelor
A knight of the lowest order; could display only a pennon
Single
(Botany) Having only one rank or row of petals
A single flower.
Bachelor
Lead a bachelor's existence
Single
One that is separate and individual.
Single
Something capable of carrying, moving, or holding one person or thing at a time, as a bed or a hotel room.
Single
A person who is not married or involved in a romantic relationship.
Single
Singles Such persons considered as a group
A bar for singles.
Single
A one-dollar bill.
Single
A phonograph record, especially a forty-five, having one song on each side.
Single
A song on one of these sides.
Single
A song, often from a full-length album or compact disc, that is released for airplay.
Single
(Baseball) A hit enabling the batter to reach first base. Also called one-bagger, one-base hit.
Single
A hit for one run in cricket.
Single
A golf match between two players.
Single
Often singles A tennis or badminton match between two players.
Single
Singles A competition in which individuals compete against each other, as in rowing or figure skating.
Single
To cause (a base runner) to score or advance by hitting a single
Singled him to second.
Single
To cause the scoring of (a run) by hitting a single.
Single
To hit a single.
Single
Not accompanied by anything else; one in number.
Can you give me a single reason not to leave right now?
The vase contained a single long-stemmed rose.
Single
Not divided in parts.
The potatoes left the spoon and landed in a single big lump on the plate.
Single
Designed for the use of only one.
A single room
Single
Performed by one person, or one on each side.
A single combat
Single
Not married, and (in modern times) not dating or without a significant other.
Forms often ask if a person is single, married, divorced, or widowed. In this context, a person who is dating someone but who has never married puts "single".
Josh put down that he was a single male on the dating website.
Single
(botany) Having only one rank or row of petals.
Single
(obsolete) Simple and honest; sincere, without deceit.
Single
Uncompounded; pure; unmixed.
Single
(obsolete) Simple; foolish; weak; silly.
Single
(music) A 45 RPM vinyl record with one song on side A and one on side B.
Single
(music) A popular song released and sold (on any format) nominally on its own though usually having at least one extra track.
The Offspring released four singles from their most recent album.
Single
One who is not married or does not have a romantic partner.
He went to the party, hoping to meet some friendly singles there.
Single
(cricket) A score of one run.
Single
(baseball) A hit in baseball where the batter advances to first base.
Single
(dominoes) A tile that has a different value (i.e. number of pips) at each end.
Single
A bill valued at $1.
I don't have any singles, so you'll have to make change.
Single
(UK) A one-way ticket.
Single
A game with one player on each side, as in tennis.
Single
One of the reeled filaments of silk, twisted without doubling to give them firmness.
Single
A handful of gleaned grain.
Single
A floating-point number having half the precision of a double-precision value.
Single
(film) A shot of only one character.
Single
A single cigarette.
Single
Synonym of single-driver.
Single
To identify or select one member of a group from the others; generally used with out, either to single out or to single (something) out.
Eddie singled out his favorite marble from the bag.
Yvonne always wondered why Ernest had singled her out of the group of giggling girls she hung around with.
Single
(baseball) To get a hit that advances the batter exactly one base.
Pedro singled in the bottom of the eighth inning, which, if converted to a run, would put the team back into contention.
Single
(agriculture) To thin out.
Single
(of a horse) To take the irregular gait called singlefoot.
Single
To sequester; to withdraw; to retire.
Single
To take alone, or one by one; to single out.
Single
(transitive) To reduce (a railway) to single track.
Single
One only, as distinguished from more than one; consisting of one alone; individual; separate; as, a single star.
No single man is born with a right of controlling the opinions of all the rest.
Single
Alone; having no companion.
Who single hast maintained,Against revolted multitudes, the causeOf truth.
Single
Hence, unmarried; as, a single man or woman.
Grows, lives, and dies in single blessedness.
Single chose to live, and shunned to wed.
Single
Not doubled, twisted together, or combined with others; as, a single thread; a single strand of a rope.
Single
Performed by one person, or one on each side; as, a single combat.
These shifts refuted, answer thy appellant, . . . Who now defles thee thrice ti single fight.
Single
Uncompounded; pure; unmixed.
Simple ideas are opposed to complex, and single to compound.
Single
Not deceitful or artful; honest; sincere.
I speak it with a single heart.
Single
Simple; not wise; weak; silly.
He utters such single matter in so infantly a voice.
Single
To sequester; to withdraw; to retire.
An agent singling itself from consorts.
Single
To take alone, or one by one.
Men . . . commendable when they are singled.
Single
To take the irrregular gait called single-foot; - said of a horse. See Single-foot.
Many very fleet horses, when overdriven, adopt a disagreeable gait, which seems to be a cross between a pace and a trot, in which the two legs of one side are raised almost but not quite, simultaneously. Such horses are said to single, or to be single-footed.
Single
A unit; one; as, to score a single.
Single
The reeled filaments of silk, twisted without doubling to give them firmness.
Single
A handful of gleaned grain.
Single
A game with but one player on each side; - usually in the plural.
Single
A hit by a batter which enables him to reach first base only.
Single
A base hit on which the batter stops safely at first base
Single
The smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number;
He has the one but will need a two and three to go with it
They had lunch at one
Single
Hit a one-base hit
Single
Existing alone or consisting of one entity or part or aspect or individual;
Upon the hill stood a single tower
Had but a single thought which was to escape
A single survivor
A single serving
A single lens
A single thickness
Single
Used of flowers having usually only one row or whorl of petals;
Single chrysanthemums resemble daisies and may have more than one row of petals
Single
Characteristic of or meant for a single person or thing;
An individual serving
Separate rooms
Single occupancy
A single bed
Single
Having uniform application;
A single legal code for all
Single
Not divided among or brought to bear on more than one object or objective;
Judging a contest with a single eye
A single devotion to duty
Undivided affection
Gained their exclusive attention
Single
Involved two individuals;
Single combat
Single
Individual and distinct;
Pegged down each separate branch to the earth
A gift for every single child
Common Curiosities
Can a woman be referred to as a bachelor?
Traditionally, no. The term "bachelorette" is sometimes used for women, but "single" is the gender-neutral term.
Does "bachelor" imply a certain age range?
While often associated with younger to middle-aged men, "bachelor" technically applies to any unmarried man regardless of age.
Is being a bachelor always a lifestyle choice?
Not necessarily. While the term can imply lifestyle choices, it fundamentally means an unmarried man without specifying reasons or lifestyle.
Can someone be both single and a bachelor?
Yes, all bachelors are single, but not all singles are bachelors, as "single" applies to unmarried individuals of any gender.
How has the perception of being single or a bachelor changed over time?
Societal norms and perceptions of relationship statuses evolve, with increasing acceptance and recognition of the diversity in individual choices and lifestyles.
Is "single" only applicable to never-married individuals?
No, "single" can refer to anyone not in a marital or long-term partnership, including those who are divorced or widowed.
How do societal perceptions of singles and bachelors differ?
Perceptions vary widely, but singles can face a broad range of stereotypes based on factors like age and gender, while bachelors are often stereotyped as preferring independence and casual relationships.
Does the term "bachelor" have a formal legal definition?
In legal terms, "single" is the status used to denote someone not married. "Bachelor" is more of a social or cultural term without legal implications.
Are there benefits to being single or a bachelor?
Benefits can vary based on personal perspectives, including independence, flexibility, and focusing on personal growth, career, or hobbies.
Do "single" and "bachelor" have different implications for relationships?
"Single" strictly denotes marital status, while "bachelor" can imply a man's approach to relationships and lifestyle, though these implications can vary widely.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
