specialist

noun

spe·​cial·​ist ˈspe-sh(ə-)list How to pronounce specialist (audio)
Synonyms of specialistnext
1
: one who specializes in a particular occupation, practice, or field of study
a specialist in disorders of the immune system
a specialist in international law
"What does Dr. James Mortimer, the man of science, ask of Sherlock Holmes, the specialist in crime?"—Arthur Conan Doyle
2
: an enlisted rank in the U.S. Army corresponding to the grade of corporal
also : any of several former enlisted ranks corresponding to the grades of sergeant through sergeant major
3
: an organism (such as a bird) specialized especially in food or habitat
specialist adjective
or specialistic
ˌspe-shə-ˈli-stik How to pronounce specialist (audio)

Examples of specialist in a Sentence

She consulted a marketing specialist when she decided to go into business. He saw a specialist for his foot problem.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The debate over the balance of the midfield will rumble on with no specialist No 6 brought in and teenager Trey Nyoni backed to step up following the sale of Curtis Jones to Inter. — James Pearce, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026 Huntington Gardens hummingbird specialist Cole Imperi will lead a talk on attracting hummingbirds to your yard or balcony. — Pedro Moura, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026 The secretary has publicized his meetings with everyone from health technology CEOs and regenerative farmers to addiction recovery specialists, fast-food executives, and beyond. — Lauren Chan, STAT, 1 Sep. 2026 Narrow specialist roles, while important, should be critically determined in a way that does not set employees down a track of obsolescence. — Tonushree Mondal, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for specialist

Word History

First Known Use

1836, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of specialist was in 1836

Phrases Containing specialist

Browse Nearby Words

special issue
specialist
specialist shop
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Specialist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/specialist. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

specialist

noun
spe·​cial·​ist ˈspesh-(ə-)ləst How to pronounce specialist (audio)
1
: a person who studies or works at a special occupation or branch of learning
an eye specialist
2
: an enlisted person in the army with a rank similar to that of corporal
specialist adjective
or specialistic
ˌspesh-ə-ˈlis-tik How to pronounce specialist (audio)

Medical Definition

specialist

noun
spe·​cial·​ist ˈspesh-(ə-)ləst How to pronounce specialist (audio)
: a medical practitioner whose practice is limited to a particular class of patients (as children) or of diseases (as skin diseases) or of technique (as surgery)
especially : a physician who is qualified by advanced training and certification by a specialty examining board to so limit his or her practice

More from Merriam-Webster on specialist

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for specialist

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