alpinist

or Al·pin·ist

[ al-puh-nist ]

noun

1. a mountain climber, especially in the Alps.
2. a downhill skier, especially one engaging in competitive slalom and downhill events.

alpinist

/ ˈælpɪnɪst /

noun

1. a mountaineer who climbs in medium-sized glaciated mountain areas such as the Alps

Derived Forms

• ˈalpinism, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of alpinist¹

From the French word alpiniste, dating back to 1880–85. See alpine, -ist

Example Sentences

Ms Manners is an alpinist, a mountain climber who specialises in difficult climbs, and now lives in Chamonix, France.

From BBC

Once upon a time, alpinists laboriously hacked steps into it — literal stairways to heaven.

From Los Angeles Times

This “high-altitude work,” Mr. Tusk later recalled, involved being a “crazy alpinist” and equipped him to calibrate results and risk, a useful political skill.

From New York Times

Another Australian alpinist, Daniel Trevena, has been coming to the region for over 10 years.

From Reuters

An experienced alpinist from Northern Ireland was found dead and another climber from India went missing on the same mountain in central Nepal on Tuesday.

From New York Times

Related Words

• climber
• mountaineer
• rock climber