docent

[ doh-suhnt; German doh-tsent ]

noun

1. privatdocent.
2. a college or university lecturer.
3. a person who is a knowledgeable guide, especially one who conducts visitors through a museum and delivers a commentary on the exhibitions.

docent

/ ˈdəʊsənt /

noun

1. a voluntary worker who acts as a guide in a museum, art gallery, etc
2. dəʊˈsɛntdoˈtsɛnt (in the US) a lecturer in some colleges or universities

Derived Forms

• ˈdocentˌship, noun

Other Words From

• docent·ship noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of docent¹

1630–40; < German Dozent < Latin docent- (stem of docēns, present participle of docēre ), equivalent to doc- teach + -ent -ent

Word History and Origins

Origin of docent¹

C19: from German Dozent, from Latin docēns from docēre to teach

Example Sentences

You don’t need a docent to describe the fine points of each element of Trumpism.

From Salon

As the group advanced through the house, admiring custom chandeliers and golden bathroom fixtures, the docents pushed the narrative forward.

From Los Angeles Times

Now, docents explain to visitors that many Holocaust survivors found refuge in “the British Mandate of Palestine” or “the area that would become the country of Israel.”

From New York Times

The docent was very informative and entertaining, and we learned a lot in just over an hour.

From Seattle Times

Also, the docents who host the tours all wear dosimeters that measure radioactivity.

From Seattle Times