specialist

[ spesh-uh-list ]

noun

1. a person who is devoted to one subject or to one particular branch of a subject or pursuit.
2. a medical practitioner who devotes attention to a particular class of diseases, patients, etc.
3. U.S. Army. an enlisted person of one of four grades having technical or administrative duties, the grades corresponding to those of corporal through sergeant first class but not requiring the exercise of command.
4. Stock Exchange. a member of an exchange who buys and sells a single stock or a particular group of stocks in their own name or for other stockbrokers and thus helps maintain the market in those securities on that exchange.

specialist

/ ˈspɛʃəlɪst /

noun

1. 1. a person who specializes in or devotes himself to a particular area of activity, field of research, etc
   2. ( as modifier )

      specialist knowledge

2. an enlisted rank in the US Army denoting technical qualifications that entitle the holder to a noncommissioned officer's pay
3. ecology an organism that has special nutritional requirements and lives in a restricted habitat that provides these Compare generalist

Derived Forms

• ˌspecialˈistic, adjective

Other Words From

• non·special·ist noun adjective
• pre·special·ist noun
• sub·special·ist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of specialist¹

First recorded in 1855–60; special + -ist

Example Sentences

Boulter, ranked 24th in the world, is the nation's leading player, with Harriet Dart, Heather Watson and doubles specialist Olivia Nicholls completing the team in Spain.

From BBC

"It was an electric night," said Andres White Correal, a jewellery specialist from Sotheby's, adding the unnamed female buyer was "ecstatic".

From BBC

A former explosive ordnance specialist who was awarded a Bronze Star during Operation Enduring Freedom, he had developed into a quiet but effective leader.

From Los Angeles Times

There were also stints with the National Guard, Federal Emergency Management Agency, the CIA and the White House, where he served as a homeland security specialist under George W. Bush.

From Los Angeles Times

In an email exchange shown to BBC News last year, deep-sea specialist Rob McCallum told Rush that the sub should not be used for commercial deep dive operations and was placing passengers in a “dangerous dynamic”.

From BBC

Related Words

• authority
• consultant
• doctor
• guru
• professional
• scholar
• technician