detectorist

British

/ dɪˈtɛktərɪst /

noun

informal a person whose hobby is using a metal detector

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The central London museum launched a fundraising appeal in October so it could permanently acquire the Tudor Heart, found by a metal detectorist in a Warwickshire field in 2019.

From BBC • Feb. 9, 2026

Archaeologist Stephen Young says Mr Derby "embodies the best of what it means to be a metal detectorist and an archaeological enthusiast".

From BBC • Dec. 27, 2025

It may be the pinnacle for any metal detectorist to find some treasure, but it does not automatically belong to them.

From BBC • Oct. 23, 2025

A metal detectorist has discovered a gold mourning ring dating from the 18th Century "gleaming in the sunshine".

From BBC • May 29, 2025

A discovery by a metal detectorist in Denmark has raised questions about the origins of the iconic Sutton Hoo helmet, thought for decades to have links to Sweden.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2025

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023