-ist

American  

1. a suffix of nouns, often corresponding to verbs ending in -ize or nouns ending in -ism, that denote a person who practices or is concerned with something, or holds certain principles, doctrines, etc..

   apologist; dramatist; machinist; novelist; realist; socialist; Thomist.

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-ist British  

suffix

1. (forming nouns) a person who performs a certain action or is concerned with something specified

   motorist

   soloist

2. (forming nouns) a person who practises in a specific field

   physicist

   typist

3. (forming nouns and adjectives) a person who advocates a particular doctrine, system, etc, or relating to such a person or the doctrine advocated

   socialist

4. (forming nouns and adjectives) a person characterized by a specified trait, tendency, etc, or relating to such a person or trait

   purist

5. (forming nouns and adjectives) a person who is prejudiced on the basis specified

   sexist

   ageist

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Etymology

Origin of -ist

Middle English -iste < Latin -ista < Greek -istēs; in some words, representing French -iste, German -ist, Italian -ista, etc., ≪ Latin < Greek, as above

Example Sentences

"I was put on a train on my own and I was told to get off in Newcastle and I sat and cried and I repeatedly said 'Was ist Newcastle?'"

From BBC

In the initial seconds of the first movement of “Pop-Pourri,” Del Tredici smash cuts between a Bach harmonization of a Lutheran chorale, “Es Ist Genug,” and his own setting of Carroll’s text.

From New York Times

München ist sowas von bereit für die Seahawks!

From Seattle Times

For others, like the composer Roxanna Panufnik, who contributed a setting of Severus Gastorius’s melody “Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan,” the project was an opportunity to bring her closer to Bach.

From New York Times

There was one particular Nazi slogan that struck a chord with Müller: “Du bist nichts; dein Volk ist alles.”

From Washington Post