generalist

[ jen-er-uh-list ]

noun

1. a person whose knowledge, aptitudes, and skills are applied to a field as a whole or to a variety of different fields ( specialist ).

generalist

/ ˈdʒɛnərəlɪst; ˈdʒɛnrə- /

noun

1. 1. a person who is knowledgeable in many fields of study
   2. ( as modifier )

      a generalist profession

2. See specialist
   ecology an organism able to utilize many food sources and therefore able to flourish in many habitats Compare specialist

Word History and Origins

Origin of generalist¹

First recorded in 1605–15; general + -ist

Example Sentences

She told TechCrunch that while the venture firm is a generalist, it is rooted in fintech and fintech infrastructure.

From TechCrunch

It seems generalist investors are recognizing that edtech investments can reap outsized returns, similar to sectors like deep tech, health tech and fintech.

From TechCrunch

I would also say that the perception that will come out in the survey of generalists in these areas may not consider some of the more advanced artificial intelligence capabilities that might be six months, a year, or two years down the road.

From MIT Technology Review

It was definitely easier to be a generalist than it is today.

From Nautilus

On the contrary, there are plenty of brands that offer snow pants for the avid generalist—but, sometimes, that means you’ll be shelling out for the perfect pair.

From Popular-Science

Finally if there is anything left over we can explore the possibility of outsourcing the task to a specialist or generalist.

From The Daily Beast

You could be a generalist—a poet/mollusk scientist/seafarer/surgeon.

From The Daily Beast

Even more wistfully, he was a passionate generalist in a time in which our ideas and expertise have become more and more silo-ed.

From The Daily Beast

He can do more for you and knows more of your case in five minutes' observation than the generalist would in three months.

From Project Gutenberg

What we have said about the specialist we could repeat by taking the opposite of the question for the generalist.

From Project Gutenberg

Woe to the specialist who is not a pretty fair generalist, and woe to the generalist who is not also a bit of a specialist.

From Project Gutenberg

Make the generalist think of himself in connection with large movements.

From Project Gutenberg

Pleasure and recreation are the only things in which an individual should be a generalist.

From Project Gutenberg