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theorist

American  
[thee-er-ist, theer-] / ˈθi ər ɪst, ˈθɪər- /

noun

theorists plural
  1. a person who theorizes.

  2. a person who deals mainly with the theory of a subject.

    a theorist in medical research.


theorist British  
/ ˈθɪəˌrɪst /

noun

  1. the originator of a theory; a person who is concerned with theory; a theoretician

"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

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of theorist

First recorded in 1585–95; theor(y) + -ist

Explanation

Someone who considers given facts and comes up with a possible explanation is called a theorist. Theorists observe various phenomena and use reasoning to come up with practical ideas that must be proven. Theorists come up with abstract ideas and then spend their lives trying to prove them. Perhaps the most famous theorist was Albert Einstein, whose theory of relativity is arguably the most famous ever presented. Still, an idea can always be disputed until proven, and theorists are often scoffed at. Einstein himself once said, "No one but a theorist believes his theory; everyone puts faith in a laboratory result but the experimenter himself."

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Vocabulary lists containing theorist

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.

Theorist Josefine Proll of the Eindhoven University of Technology is equally enthusiastic: “All of a sudden, stellarators are back in the game.”

From Science Magazine • Sep. 6, 2022

Theorist Freeman Dyson devised a way to find even the quietest technological cultures, which he surmised could be detected by looking for gigantic energy-harvesting structures they might build around their home stars.

From Scientific American • Sep. 6, 2022

I've used their story in two of my books, Peddling Prosperity and The Accidental Theorist, but it bears retelling, this time with an Asian twist.

From Slate • Dec. 19, 2017

Michael Chwe, the author of Jane Austen, Game Theorist, is Professor of Political Science at UCLA. The views expressed are solely his own. 

From Time • Oct. 2, 2013

A Theorist, who tries to fit into his theory a peculiar nature cannot always afford to understand that nature.

From Cobwebs of Thought by Arachne

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