specialist

noun

spe·​cial·​ist ˈspe-sh(ə-)list How to pronounce specialist (audio)
1
: one who specializes in a particular occupation, practice, or field of study
a specialist in disorders of the immune system
a specialist in international law
"What does Dr. James Mortimer, the man of science, ask of Sherlock Holmes, the specialist in crime?"Arthur Conan Doyle
2
: an enlisted rank in the U.S. Army corresponding to the grade of corporal
also : any of several former enlisted ranks corresponding to the grades of sergeant through sergeant major
3
: an organism (such as a bird) specialized especially in food or habitat
specialist adjective
or specialistic

Examples of specialist in a Sentence

She consulted a marketing specialist when she decided to go into business. He saw a specialist for his foot problem.
Recent Examples on the Web Language Proficiency Assessment Committee specialists work with students who are learning English and their teachers, Hullender said. Silas Allen, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Mar. 2024 But the job isn’t entirely done: The sign’s flashing starburst and 8-ball need incandescent lights and a specialist to do the installation. Sal Pizarro, The Mercury News, 2 Mar. 2024 Shake Shack, the fast-food chain known for its burgers, fried chicken sandwiches, and titular shakes, plans on opening three new Orange County locations in Brea, Costa Mesa and Huntington Beach, according to Kate DeMarco, the company’s brand communications specialist. Brock Keeling, Orange County Register, 2 Mar. 2024 Say one of the specialists noticed an unusual pattern and needed to draw up a non-standard analytical report, which had to be sent to their colleague for review. Ilya Gandzeichuk, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 Ruth Gottesman has been involved with the school for more than 55 years, first as a specialist in the diagnosis and treatment of learning disabilities and then as a trustee. Ginia Bellafante, New York Times, 29 Feb. 2024 The Central and recently closed Antioch branches have been the most consistent at offering it, said Michelle Ranney, youth information specialist at the library. Beth Lipoff, Kansas City Star, 21 Feb. 2024 Agriculture specialists have found handicrafts, grain, and fruits potentially infested with invasive insects. Marisa Garcia, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2024 As a result, many of the earliest computer specialists were women—employees of corporations or wartime government agencies whose job was to crunch numbers by hand and to input data into the earliest electronic computer prototypes. Anna Shechtman, The New Yorker, 18 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'specialist.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1836, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of specialist was in 1836

Dictionary Entries Near specialist

Cite this Entry

“Specialist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/specialist. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

specialist

noun
spe·​cial·​ist ˈspesh-(ə-)ləst How to pronounce specialist (audio)
1
: a person who studies or works at a special occupation or branch of learning
an eye specialist
2
: an enlisted person in the army with a rank similar to that of corporal
specialist adjective
or specialistic

Medical Definition

specialist

noun
spe·​cial·​ist ˈspesh-(ə-)ləst How to pronounce specialist (audio)
: a medical practitioner whose practice is limited to a particular class of patients (as children) or of diseases (as skin diseases) or of technique (as surgery)
especially : a physician who is qualified by advanced training and certification by a specialty examining board to so limit his or her practice
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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