alpinist
Americannoun
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a mountain climber, especially in the Alps.
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a downhill skier, especially one engaging in competitive slalom and downhill events.
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of alpinist
From the French word alpiniste, dating back to 1880–85. See alpine, -ist
Explanation
If you're a serious mountain climber, you can call yourself an alpinist. A leisurely hike won't earn you the title of alpinist. Climbing Mount Everest? That's another story. As opposed to a casual climber of relatively low-altitude mountains, an alpinist is extremely serious about his or her climbing. If your sister is an alpinist, she probably sets her sights on extremely high mountains, like those in the Andes, the Himalayas, or the Alps. In fact, the Alps, which lie within the boundaries of Europe, are the inspiration for the word alpinist, which specifies a climber of high, long-ranging, and ice-covered mountain ranges like the Alps themselves.
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.
But packing too light "opens you up to risk," says editor of Alpinist magazine, Derek Franz.
From BBC • Feb. 28, 2026
With the success of films like "Free Solo" and the popularity of the "Reel Rock Film Festival," and the recent release of "The Alpinist," climbing films have developed into a full-fledged genre.
From Salon • Nov. 30, 2021
She corresponded with the only hoaxer still living — Post, a Vashon Island resident — and wrote an essay for Alpinist.
From Seattle Times • Nov. 3, 2021
“When you’re out there and you’re tickling the dragon, you have an appreciation for the fragility of life,” explains Christian Beckwith, founder of Alpinist magazine.
From The Guardian • May 6, 2018
"Who am I!" exclaimed the Alpinist, now thoroughly vexed...
From Tartarin On The Alps by Wormeley, Katharine Prescott
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
