specialist

American  

[spesh-uh-list] / ˈspɛʃ ə lɪst /

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.

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specialist British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• nonspecialist noun
• prespecialist noun
• specialistic adjective
• subspecialist noun

Etymology

Origin of specialist

First recorded in 1855–60; special + -ist

Example Sentences

"We are pleased to be able to give victims a safe channel to access specialist services completely independently from the police or any faith-based institution."

From BBC

“People in the field often refer to me as a ‘specialist’ because I focus on men and I’m like, ‘No this is 50% of the population,’” says Seidler.

From The Wall Street Journal

Atlas also licenses its technology to companies abroad and sends a team of specialists from the United States to supervise the construction work.

From Barron's

Many organs, he added, could be saved with just a couple of days of specialist attention.

From BBC

"As soon as the price of a barrel of oil rises, airline profits fall, and vice versa," said Paul Chiambaretto, professor of strategy and marketing at Montpellier Business School and an air transport specialist.

From Barron's

Related Words

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