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 author was born into a traditional nuclear family: father Carl was an entomologist and mother Margaret a dietitian/nutritionist; her brother Harold preceded her, and sister Ruth arrived a dozen years later.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 3, 2025
Mr Hjaltason sent the insects to the Icelandic Institute of Natural History to be identified, where entomologist Matthías Alfreðsson confirmed his suspicions.
From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2025
Swedish entomologist Lars Brundin first proposed in 1966 that the breakup of the ancient supercontinent Gondwana triggered this evolutionary separation.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 15, 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
“The greatest single factor in preventing insects from overwhelming the rest of the world is the internecine warfare which they carry out among themselves,” said the entomologist Robert Metcalf.
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.
