arborist

American

[ahr-ber-ist] / ˈɑr bər ɪst /

noun

a specialist in the cultivation and care of trees and shrubs, including tree surgery, the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of tree diseases, and the control of pests.

arborist British

/ ˈɑːbərɪst /

noun

a specialist in the cultivation of trees

"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

Etymology

Origin of arborist

First recorded in 1570–80; arbor ³ + -ist

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.

Some states have their own arborist certifications as well.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 4, 2026

That’s why, if you don’t want your house cleaved in twain, diagnosing your trees is best left to a certified arborist.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 4, 2026

The Argyle Street Ash was then put forward by David Treanor - an arborist from Glasgow who has been managing the tree in recent years.

From BBC • Sep. 25, 2025

This year, hot spells in May encouraged some early bloomers, said Lisa Smith, a consulting arborist and president of the tree-consulting firm the Tree Resource.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 24, 2025

Mind you, an arborist is a great friend to trees.

From "Wishtree" by Katherine Applegate

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023