strategist
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of strategist
First recorded in 1830–40; strateg(y) + -ist
Compare meaning
How does strategist compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
That guy who's really good at making a detailed plan for winning at Monopoly? He's a strategist, or an expert at strategy, or planning. The noun strategist is most commonly used to talk about military people who plan wars, but it's useful whenever you mention someone who is particularly good at making a plan in any kind of complex situation. A coach acts as a strategist when she makes a plan to help her team win the game. A busy mom could also be called a strategist when she has a system for getting a bunch of kids fed, clothed, and out the door to school on time.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
James Kirkham, a brand strategist and culture commentator, agrees that the themes that once made Euphoria feel culturally defining are now more mainstream.
From BBC • May 30, 2026
Net imports of oil make up about 7% of Thailand’s GDP, one of the highest exposures, according to BCA Research emerging markets strategist Arthur Budaghyan.
From Barron's • May 30, 2026
Michael O’Rourke, chief market strategist at JonesTrading, says it’s dangerous for the broader market when hot money starts pouring into a group of small-cap stocks with speculative business models.
From Barron's • May 29, 2026
Some observers, such as Nomura’s cross-asset strategist Charlie McElligott, think confirmation of a deal may trigger a sell-the-news pullback for stocks as already over-exuberant positions are unwound.
From MarketWatch • May 29, 2026
I, too, craned to see out the portholes, examining the scenery not as a tourist but as a strategist, looking for areas where a guerrilla army might hide itself.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
