specialist
noun
spe·cial·ist
ˈspe-sh(ə-)list 
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
Arthur Conan Doyle2
: 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
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
Partner and wine specialist Levon Bağış focuses on low-intervention wines from native varieties.
—Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 20 Apr. 2024
Classical is led by singles specialists Skyler Kim, Sid Nestman and Ryan Guest.
—Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Apr. 2024
Primary care doctors are often seen as the ones who coordinate patient care, making the payments to specialists notable.
—Phil Galewitz, NPR, 17 Apr. 2024
Bostrom High School went on lockdown when the intervention specialist contacted then-Assistant Principal Homar Delgado.
—Yana Kunichoff, The Arizona Republic, 16 Apr. 2024
Spinal taps can be expensive and difficult to schedule because they must be done by specialists, whose schedules fill months in advance due to high-demand.
—Binghui Huang, The Indianapolis Star, 15 Apr. 2024
The Japanese sent specialists to the capital, Kathmandu, to help Nepali farmers get serious about making the stuff of cold, hard yen.
—Alex Travelli Uma Bista, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2024
Alicia Henson, the education specialist for the Master of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics program at the University of California, Berkeley, said the health value of coffee — much like potatoes — depends on what’s added.
—Katie Mogg, NBC News, 14 Apr. 2024
Researchers developed it specifically to preserve cognitive function, Maggie Moon, MS, RD, brain health nutrition specialist and best-selling author of The MIND Diet, told Health.
—Lauren Manaker Ms, Rdn, Health, 9 Apr. 2024
Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 20 Apr. 2024
Classical is led by singles specialists Skyler Kim, Sid Nestman and Ryan Guest.
—Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Apr. 2024
Primary care doctors are often seen as the ones who coordinate patient care, making the payments to specialists notable.
—Phil Galewitz, NPR, 17 Apr. 2024
Bostrom High School went on lockdown when the intervention specialist contacted then-Assistant Principal Homar Delgado.
—Yana Kunichoff, The Arizona Republic, 16 Apr. 2024
Spinal taps can be expensive and difficult to schedule because they must be done by specialists, whose schedules fill months in advance due to high-demand.
—Binghui Huang, The Indianapolis Star, 15 Apr. 2024
The Japanese sent specialists to the capital, Kathmandu, to help Nepali farmers get serious about making the stuff of cold, hard yen.
—Alex Travelli Uma Bista, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2024
Alicia Henson, the education specialist for the Master of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics program at the University of California, Berkeley, said the health value of coffee — much like potatoes — depends on what’s added.
—Katie Mogg, NBC News, 14 Apr. 2024
Researchers developed it specifically to preserve cognitive function, Maggie Moon, MS, RD, brain health nutrition specialist and best-selling author of The MIND Diet, told Health.
—Lauren Manaker Ms, Rdn, Health, 9 Apr. 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.
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Cite this Entry
“Specialist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/specialist. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
specialist
noun
spe·cial·ist
ˈspesh-(ə-)ləst
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
Medical Definition
specialist
noun
spe·cial·ist
ˈspesh-(ə-)ləst
: 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
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