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naturalist

[ nach-er-uh-list, nach-ruh- ]
/ ˈnætʃ ər ə lɪst, ˈnætʃ rə- /
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noun
a person who studies or is an expert in natural history, especially a zoologist or botanist.
an adherent of naturalism in literature or art.
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Origin of naturalist

First recorded in 1580–90; natural + -ist

OTHER WORDS FROM naturalist

an·ti·nat·u·ral·ist, noun, adjectivenon·nat·u·ral·ist, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH naturalist

naturalist , naturist, nudist
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use naturalist in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for naturalist

naturalist
/ (ˈnætʃrəlɪst, -tʃərəl-) /

noun
a person who is expert or interested in botany or zoology, esp in the field
a person who advocates or practises naturalism, esp in art or literature
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for naturalist

naturalist
[ năch′ər-ə-lĭst ]

A person who specializes in natural history, especially in the study of plants and animals in their natural surroundings.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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