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.

“Once you see those growing on the tree, it’s not a good sign,” says Luke Brunner, a Detroit-based ISA Board Certified Master Arborist with Davey Tree Expert Co.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 4, 2026

Arborist Rebecca Latta of Altadena Green grew up in the unincorporated town and knows the wildlife well.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 1, 2025

According to City Arborist Nolan Rundquist, the tree is 48 inches in diameter, although it has several trunks.

From Seattle Times • May 16, 2022

An ISA Board Certified Master Arborist has an even higher level of knowledge.

From Washington Post • Jul. 12, 2021

Upshot: Arborist Stearns agreed to get a friend and remove the cannon; Editor Coghlan agreed to pay the expenses.

From Time Magazine Archive

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