allergist

American  

[al-er-jist] / ˈæl ər dʒɪst /

noun

• allergists
  plural

1. a physician specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of allergies.

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allergist British  

/ ˈælədʒɪst /

noun

1. a physician skilled in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases or conditions caused by allergy

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• allergists
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of allergist

First recorded in 1930–35; allerg(y) + -ist

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Explanation

An allergist is a doctor whose specialty is allergies. If you suspect that your cat is making you sneeze uncontrollably, you might want to see an allergist. Allergists can diagnose allergies, perform tests to find out exactly what patients are allergic to, and prescribe medication to treat the symptoms of those allergies. It takes extra years of study to specialize in this field and become an allergist. The word comes from allergy, by way of the German Allergie, coined by an Austrian doctor from the Greek roots allos, "other, different, or strange," and ergon, "activity."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

allergist allergists

“It’s enigmatic enough that it’s almost the stuff of sci-fi or fantasy,” said Dr. Jeffrey Wilson, a University of Virginia School of Medicine allergist and immunologist who has treated nearly 1,000 alpha-gal patients.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 4, 2026

She encourages pet owners to have their partner see an allergist before giving up on their four-legged friend.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 2, 2026

“One of the biggest concerns for families living with peanut allergy is the fear of accidental exposure,” said Westmead Children’s Hospital allergist Dr Lara Ford.

From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2024

“There’s nothing I can afford,” said Dr. Barba, an allergist who has been working 100 hours overtime every month to save up a nest egg.

From New York Times ● Apr. 21, 2024

By their constant contact with the chemicals these men keep themselves desensitized — as an allergist keeps his patients desensitized by repeated small injections of the allergen.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson

Dr Douglas Jones is co-founder of the Food Allergy Support Team, a nonprofit collaborative of hundreds of allergists across the UK, Europe and further afield.

From BBC ● Jun. 13, 2026

The reductions in diagnoses were found even though only about 29% of pediatricians and 65% of allergists reported following the expanded guidance issued in 2017, surveys found.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2025

"It's an easy drug regimen to implement in a medical practice, and many allergists are already using this for other allergic conditions."

From Science Daily ● Feb. 25, 2024

Some allergists worry that direct-to-consumer companies hasten a broader trend: the decline of the practitioner-patient relationship.

From Salon ● Aug. 15, 2023

Workups with allergists, pulmonologists and even a gastroenterologist have not turned up the cause.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 27, 2021

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