Synonyms

conversationalist

American

[kon-ver-sey-shuh-nl-ist] / ˌkɒn vərˈseɪ ʃə nl ɪst /

noun

a person who enjoys and contributes to good conversation; an interesting person in conversation.

conversationalist British

/ ˌkɒnvəˈseɪʃənəlɪst /

noun

a person who enjoys or excels in conversation

"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 conversationalist

First recorded in 1830–40; conversational + -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.

Ideally, it should bring people together and make the world more interesting and make you a more sparkling conversationalist.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 28, 2025

“We weren’t actively appealing to a younger fan base,” said Hozier, who is a low-key conversationalist, particularly when discussing his accomplishments.

From New York Times • Jun. 18, 2024

Stewart is a great conversationalist and can use that skill to get inside people's heads.

From Salon • May 31, 2023

And now that he’d passed, Daren realized he had no one left to talk to, not that his dad had been much of a conversationalist at the end.

From Slate • Feb. 25, 2023

I was being a lousy conversationalist, but I didn't feel like it.

From "The Catcher in the Rye" by J. D. Salinger

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