specialist

American  

[spesh-uh-list] / ˈspɛʃ ə lɪst /

noun

1. a person who is devoted to one subject or to one particular branch of a subject or pursuit.

2. a medical practitioner who devotes attention to a particular class of diseases, patients, etc.

3. U.S. Army. an enlisted person of one of four grades having technical or administrative duties, the grades corresponding to those of corporal through sergeant first class but not requiring the exercise of command.

4. Stock Exchange. a member of an exchange who buys and sells a single stock or a particular group of stocks in their own name or for other stockbrokers and thus helps maintain the market in those securities on that exchange.

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specialist British  

/ ˈspɛʃəlɪst /

noun

1. 1. a person who specializes in or devotes himself to a particular area of activity, field of research, etc

   2. ( as modifier )

      specialist knowledge

2. an enlisted rank in the US Army denoting technical qualifications that entitle the holder to a noncommissioned officer's pay

3. ecology an organism that has special nutritional requirements and lives in a restricted habitat that provides these Compare generalist

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Other Word Forms

• nonspecialist noun
• prespecialist noun
• specialistic adjective
• subspecialist noun

Etymology

Origin of specialist

First recorded in 1855–60; special + -ist

Explanation

A specialist has an area of expertise in a profession or branch of learning. Call an ear, nose, and throat specialist if you can’t shake a stuffy nose, but go to a Shakespeare specialist to learn about King Lear. Specialist started off as a word used just for doctors who focused particular diseases or parts of the body, but now a specialist can be someone with a narrow focus in any field. A specialist is any professional with a specialty — lawyers are specialists because each lawyer deals with a specific kind of legal work. To be a specialist you have to study or get experience in a specific field for a long time.

Example Sentences

"No one believes in these fairytales anymore," Yevgeniy Lamakh, an IT specialist, told AFP in central Kyiv.

From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026

“This is the first time I’ve seen a substantial nonwarship procurement in one big budget,” said Brent Sadler, a maritime specialist at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

He built a reputation first as a marketer—credited with revitalizing brands—and later as a turnaround specialist.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

The Willie Mullins-trained Aintree specialist must have another excellent chance this year, off just a 1lb higher mark.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

He still spent most of his time in Haiti, but as an attending specialist on the Brigham’s senior staff, he was sought after frequently for his diagnoses of ID—infectious diseases.

From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French

Related Words

• authority
• consultant
• doctor
• guru
• professional
• scholar
• technician