alchemist

American  

[al-kuh-mist] / ˈæl kə mɪst /

noun

1. a person who is versed in or practices alchemy.

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alchemist British  

/ ˈælkəmɪst /

noun

1. a person who practises alchemy

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Etymology

Origin of alchemist

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English alkamist, probably from Medieval Latin alchymista, equivalent to alchym(ia) alchemy + -ista -ist

Explanation

If you're an alchemist, then you try to change common metals into gold. People have been trying to figure that out for a long time, so you might need to have another job to finance your career as an alchemist. The word alchemist comes from alchemy, which has origins in the Greek word khemeia, meaning "art of transmuting metals." Active since ancient times, alchemists could be considered very early chemists because of their work trying to transform base metals into gold. Alchemists could also be considered wizards because they attempted to make special elixirs that would give everlasting life and cure sickness.

Example Sentences

Lichtenberg considers himself an AI alchemist of sorts, because he often has to re-prompt the tools he uses to get the writing and analysis he’s looking for.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

In a post on social media, Dead Ringers star Jon Culshaw called Dare the "wisest comedy alchemist and the dearest, dearest friend".

From BBC • Mar. 4, 2025

A self-proclaimed alchemist, Williams specializes in transforming wet soil into hardened sculptures that typically live outdoors, where the wind carries seedlings that may attach to the artist’s creations and bloom.

From New York Times • Mar. 22, 2024

Whoever can turn it invisible by bending light around it will change warfare just as dramatically as the Chinese alchemist 900 years ago who was looking for the elixir of life and discovered gunpowder.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2024

“My heart is a traitor,” the boy said to the alchemist, when they had paused to rest the horses.

From "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho