linguist

American  

[ling-gwist] / ˈlɪŋ gwɪst /

noun

1. a specialist in linguistics.

2. a person who is skilled in several languages; polyglot.

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linguist British  

/ ˈlɪŋɡwɪst /

noun

1. a person who has the capacity to learn and speak foreign languages

2. a person who studies linguistics

3. the spokesman for a chief

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Etymology

Origin of linguist

First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin lingu(a) “tongue, speech” + -ist

Example Sentences

The foreign ministry said the family of linguist and researcher Dennis Coyle had written to the supreme leader of Afghanistan, asking that he be released and pardoned for Eid.

From Barron's • Mar. 24, 2026

“There’s Communications Hill featuring a tower that’s part of the history of Silicon Valley,” the speech-recognition linguist said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 3, 2026

Watkins was recommended to the “Predator: Badlands” team by Paul Frommer, the linguist who created the Na’vi language for the “Avatar” films.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 10, 2025

I'm a linguist who studies "word of mouth," or what people tell each other about their experiences.

From Salon • Oct. 8, 2024

Hence a linguist would immediately deduce correctly that the English language arose in coastal northwestern Europe and spread around the world from there.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond