allergist

American  

[al-er-jist] / ˈæl ər dʒɪst /

noun

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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Etymology

Origin of allergist

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

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

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

“What I was surprised by was the magnitude of the results,” said Dr. David Hill, an attending allergist at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and senior author of the study.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 20, 2025

“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

There are long waiting times to see a specialist allergist for a definitive test.

From BBC • Sep. 27, 2023

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