entomologist
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of entomologist
First recorded in 1770–80; entomolog(y) ( def. ) + -ist ( def. )
Explanation
If you are crazy about spiders, ants, beetles, and other creepy-crawlies, you might aspire to be an entomologist someday — a scientist who studies insects. An entomologist is a specific type of zoologist, or animal scientist. While other zoologists might focus on mammals or reptiles, entomologists are fascinated with the most prolific organisms on earth — insects. Some entomologists classify and study species, while others are certified to be pest control experts, helping people battle bugs like cockroaches and termites in their homes. The Greek word entomon, or "insect," is at the root of entomologist.
Vocabulary lists containing entomologist
"The Experiment" and "Superstition"
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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.
The sacking of Dadan Hindayana, an entomologist, comes a week after Indonesia's corruption watchdog filed a complaint alleging inconsistencies in budgeting across kitchens.
From BBC ● Jun. 3, 2026
The behavior was reported this week in the journal Ecology and Evolution and was observed by entomologist Mark Moffett, a research associate at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 14, 2026
When Sagne, who was an entomologist before retiring to the woods, compares the group to an ant colony, everyone appears to accept at face value the superficial aptitude of her analogy.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 20, 2025
“This is new,” said Rya Seltzer, an entomologist at Tel Aviv University and an author of the study.
From New York Times ● Dec. 6, 2024
California is virtually alone among the states in having a formal program in biological control, and many states have not even one entomologist who devotes full time to it.
From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson
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.
