expert

[ noun verb ek-spurt; adjective ek-spurt, ik-spurt ]

noun

1. a person who has special skill or knowledge in some particular field; specialist; authority:

   a language expert.

   Synonyms: master, connoisseur

2. Military.
   1. the highest rating in rifle marksmanship, above that of marksman and sharpshooter.
   2. a person who has achieved such a rating.

adjective

1. possessing special skill or knowledge; trained by practice; skillful or skilled (often followed by in or at ):

   an expert driver;

   to be expert at driving a car.

   Synonyms: dexterous, proficient, experienced

   Antonyms: unskillful

2. pertaining to, coming from, or characteristic of an expert:

   expert work;

   expert advice.

verb (used with object)

1. to act as an expert for.

expert

/ ˈɛkspɜːt /

noun

1. a person who has extensive skill or knowledge in a particular field

adjective

1. skilful or knowledgeable
2. of, involving, or done by an expert

   an expert job

Derived Forms

• ˈexpertness, noun
• ˈexpertly, adverb

Other Words From

• ex·pertly adverb
• ex·pertness noun
• non·expert noun adjective
• pro·expert adjective
• unex·pert adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of expert¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, from Latin expertus “tried,” past participle of experīrī “to try”; experience

Word History and Origins

Origin of expert¹

C14: from Latin expertus known by experience, from experīrī to test; see experience

Synonym Study

See skillful.

Example Sentences

Postal workers and independent experts say that has caused mail to pile up in post offices and caused multiday delays in localities across the country.

From Washington Post

She added that she felt Pence’s top officials often showed derision toward the administration’s medical experts.

From Washington Post

His suspicions are out of step with the views of election experts and many within his own party, who are building large-scale vote-by-mail programs.

From Washington Post

Unless we have a dermatologist, a doctor, an expert co-sign that product, we don’t cover it.

From Digiday

States have broad power — known as “police power” — to protect public health in an emergency, even when doing so infringes on individual liberties, legal experts say.

From Washington Post

I went into the audition as Fericito, the Venezuelan percussionist, and then I did a self-defense expert.

From The Daily Beast

“He was a brave field commander and an expert in intelligence, and in organizing popular and tribal forces,” said the eulogist.

From The Daily Beast

Well, one expert I talked to said that physically it involves little more than a $20 cable.

From The Daily Beast

An expert in education talks about race relations, the political environment and what can be done to improve things.

From The Daily Beast

Carter has also been a fixture on boards and expert panels, in think tanks and at universities.

From The Daily Beast

And having an enormous appetite he was fortunate in being expert at finding angleworms.

From Project Gutenberg

He has his particular likings and tit-bits, and is very expert in carving out the parts of an animal that please him best.

From Project Gutenberg

But, as many people know, and all may believe, running in a crowded London street is difficult—even to an expert London thief.

From Project Gutenberg

When conversing recently with an expert on this subject I asked whether the use of asbestos would not effect the desired object.

From Project Gutenberg

His services as witness and expert adviser were in great request by railway companies.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• artist
• authority
• professional