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

"Every behaviour is represented by specific acceleration patterns and thus creates specific signatures in the ACC data of the sensors," explains wildlife biologist and AI specialist Wanja Rast from the Leibniz-IZW.

From Science Daily

Violators would be given a choice to accept services or be forcibly located to tent cities, where doctors and other specialists would assess their needs, he has said.

From Los Angeles Times

Planning documents show Mr Saverimutto said the gym would give specialist sports and health education to aspiring young athletes aged eight to 18, and include three classrooms and a sensory room.

From BBC

Coroner Crispin Oliver concluded it was "highly likely" Mr Morris, who suffered a cardiac arrest, would have survived had available specialist medical treatment been applied in a "timely manner".

From BBC

The specialists are clear - they don’t want to stop me doing things.

From BBC

Related Words

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