essayist

noun

es·​say·​ist ˈe-ˌsā-ist How to pronounce essayist (audio)
Synonyms of essayistnext
: a writer of essays

Examples of essayist in a Sentence

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Growing up in the foothills of eastern Kentucky as a compulsive reader and full-time hillbilly, I was instinctively attracted, like most literary-minded country folk, to the work of essayist, novelist, and poet, Wendell Berry. — Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2026 Still, the essayists praised her work on homelessness and tenant protections. — Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026 James Baldwin rose to prominence as a novelist, essayist, and public intellectual at a time when psychoanalysis was all the rage. — Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 4 Aug. 2026 Icelandic poet, novelist and essayist Andri Snær Magnason was tasked with commemorating Ok, his words etched into copper and fastened to rock uncovered by the glacier’s retreating ice. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 28 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for essayist

Word History

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of essayist was in 1601

Rhymes for essayist

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Browse Nearby Words

essay examination
essayist
essayistic
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Cite this Entry

“Essayist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/essayist. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

essayist

noun
es·​say·​ist ˈes-ˌā-əst How to pronounce essayist (audio)
: a writer of essays

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