journalist
Americannoun
-
a person who practices the occupation or profession of journalism.
-
a person who keeps a journal, diary, or other record of daily events.
noun
-
a person whose occupation is journalism
-
a person who keeps a journal
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of journalist
Explanation
A journalist is a person whose job involves writing nonfiction stories for newspapers, magazines, or online news sites. If you are reading or hearing a news story, you have a journalist to thank for providing that story. One type of journalist is a reporter, who researches topics and interviews people before writing a story or producing a piece for TV. Editors, photographers, and columnists can also be described as journalists, particularly if they work for a newspaper. Another kind of journalist is a person who regularly writes in a journal or diary. Journalist comes from the Old French jornel, "day" or "day's work," which became journal, "daily publication."
Vocabulary lists containing journalist
Journalism
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"Hip-Hop as Culture" and "I Am Somebody"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
This Week in Words: Current Events Vocabulary for April 1–April 7, 2023
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Spoiler alert: Journalist Joanna Stern used AI in the process of writing this stunt memoir.
From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026
Journalist Christopher Dring, editor of The Game Business, tells BBC News the funding was "a strong statement from the government that it is taking video games seriously as an economic and cultural force".
From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026
He was named the 2015 Business Journalist of the Year by Talking Biz News and, in a younger era, to the Newspaper Association of America’s 30-under-30 list.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026
Journalist Ofek Tzach has offered a ranking of Tel Aviv's public shelters.
From Barron's • Mar. 8, 2026
Journalist Louis Lomax was one of the first to understand the dimensions of this shift and to describe its significance.
From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
