columnist

American  

[kol-uhm-nist, -uh-mist] / ˈkɒl əm nɪst, -ə mɪst /

noun

1. the writer or editor of a newspaper or magazine column.

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columnist British  

/ -əmnɪst, ˈkɒləmɪst /

noun

1. a journalist who writes a regular feature in a newspaper

   a gossip columnist

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Etymology

Origin of columnist

An Americanism dating back to 1915–20; column + -ist

Explanation

A columnist writes regularly for a newspaper or magazine, usually expressing opinions or commentary. A columnist might write an article endorsing a candidate for president one week, and a story about a terrible local fire the next week. If you get a job as a newspaper columnist, you'll be expected to publish on a regular basis, maybe once or twice a week. An advice columnist answers letters that ask for help with personal problems and dilemmas, and a political columnist comments on various current events and political figures. The word columnist comes from a newspaper column, which got that name from the "vertical division of a page" meaning.

Example Sentences

A columnist tested Hypershell’s X Ultra S, a $1,999 AI-powered bionic leg booster for hiking and cycling.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 21, 2026

As an example, Nguyen analyzed Washington Post columnist Geoffrey Fowler’s Starbucks Rewards data profile, noticing a trend that the more Fowler went to Starbucks, the fewer discounts he was offered.

From Salon • May 18, 2026

That’s why, as an advice columnist, I have made it my business to wait for the question.

From MarketWatch • May 18, 2026

BBC Sport columnist Guillem Balague said that there was "a clash between a coach with a clear methodology and players who want to rely on instinct".

From BBC • May 16, 2026

In her heart, she was his silent ally, a fifth columnist, in Bull’s inveterate assaults on the trellised escutcheons of the Old South that Lillian shoved in front of him.

From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy

Related Words

• correspondent
• reporter
• writer