dermatologist
Americannoun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of dermatologist
First recorded in 1860–65; dermatolog(y) + -ist
Explanation
The person who examines your moles, acne, and other skin problems is called a dermatologist. Once visited mainly for acne problems, dermatologists have become more important, as skin problems have grown more common with our increased exposure to the sun. You know that an "-logy" at the end of a word means "study" and that "-logist" means "one who studies. In the noun dermatologist, the object being studied is the derma, the Greek word for "skin." (The Greeks also used it to refer to "leather" or "hide," which still works for diehard sun worshipers. And think of elephants being called "pachyderms," with their "thick skin.") Dermatology and dermatologist both appeared in English in the 19th century.
Vocabulary lists containing dermatologist
Body Language: Derm ("Skin")
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carn (flesh), derm (skin), dent (tooth), os (bone)
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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.
For many foundations and powders, you would need to use several more layers than you normally would to achieve the advertised SPF protection, Mount Sinai dermatologist Dr. Helen He said.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 3, 2026
"The irony? They've already got it - when you're little, your skin is in perfect condition," says consultant dermatologist, Dr Jean Ayer, an NHS consultant and private dermatologist based in Stockport.
From BBC • Jun. 6, 2026
“FAPD is very new in clinical practice,” says Alessandra Haskin, a dermatologist at Weiser Skin M.D. in New York City who has particular expertise in hair loss among patients of color.
From Slate • May 23, 2026
The lesion -- clearly visible in recent weeks -- was a basal cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer, said dermatologist Cristina Abdalla, who led the procedure at the Sirio-Libanes Hospital in Sao Paulo.
From Barron's • Apr. 24, 2026
An alarming purple rash on her leg led to a trip to a dermatologist.
From "Class Matters" by The New York Times
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.
