alchemist

American  

[al-kuh-mist] / ˈæl kə mɪst /

noun

1. a person who is versed in or practices alchemy.

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alchemist British  

/ ˈælkəmɪst /

noun

1. a person who practises alchemy

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Etymology

Origin of alchemist

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English alkamist, probably from Medieval Latin alchymista, equivalent to alchym(ia) alchemy + -ista -ist

Explanation

If you're an alchemist, then you try to change common metals into gold. People have been trying to figure that out for a long time, so you might need to have another job to finance your career as an alchemist. The word alchemist comes from alchemy, which has origins in the Greek word khemeia, meaning "art of transmuting metals." Active since ancient times, alchemists could be considered very early chemists because of their work trying to transform base metals into gold. Alchemists could also be considered wizards because they attempted to make special elixirs that would give everlasting life and cure sickness.

Example Sentences

This one felt a little like playing pantry alchemist in the hour before dinner — the sort of meal that begins with “What needs using?” and somehow ends with something improbably lush.

From Salon • May 12, 2026

Lichtenberg considers himself an AI alchemist of sorts, because he often has to re-prompt the tools he uses to get the writing and analysis he’s looking for.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

Outside, it was a cold November evening, but inside the West End venue, Mulatu was bathed in the warm embrace of a crowd eager to get one last glimpse of this alchemist at work.

From BBC • Dec. 27, 2025

And in case you’re free next Saturday, July 29, you can still get tickets to see Jorge Drexler, the Latin Grammy-winning musical alchemist par excellence, at The Ford in Los Angeles.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 21, 2023

They stared at each other, the alchemist and the librarian.

From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor