paleontologist

American  

[pey-lee-uhn-tol-uh-jist, pal-ee-] / ˌpeɪ li ənˈtɒl ə dʒɪst, ˌpæl i- /

noun

1. a scientist who specializes in the study of life forms that existed in previous geologic periods, as represented by their fossils.

   The education program manager for the museum has worked as a paleontologist, digging up dinosaur bones in Wyoming.

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Etymology

Origin of paleontologist

paleontolog(y) ( def. ) + -ist ( def. )

Explanation

A paleontologist is a scientist who studies fossils. If your basement is filled with fossils found while out on hikes, then you're an amateur paleontologist. Paleontology breaks down to the Greek for "ancient" (paleo), "being" (onto-), and "study" (-logy). A paleontologist tries to figure out how things were in ancient times by studying their remains in fossil traces. If you are obsessed with all things related to dinosaurs, becoming a paleontologist might make sense for you.

Example Sentences

If you’re a paleontologist, you probably know this.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 10, 2026

"I never would have imagined I'd come across such a spectacular discovery in the region where I live," said Milan-based paleontologist Cristiano Dal Sasso.

From BBC • Dec. 16, 2025

The fossils were unearthed from the Bayanshiree Formation in southeastern Mongolia and were first studied in the 1970s by paleontologist Altangerel Perle, who initially compared them to a similar species known as Alectrosaurus from China.

From Science Daily • Oct. 24, 2025

It was developed in conjunction with paleontologist Gregory M. Erickson, currently a member of the faculty of Florida State University.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 16, 2025

Paul Martin, a paleontologist who was one of Haynes’s Arizona colleagues, thought otherwise.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann