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.
Investors are “bearish and long,” reported BofA strategist Michael Hartnett and his team.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026
Morgan Stanley’s chief U.S. equity strategist, Mike Wilson, sees a similar “discounting process” in stocks, going back as far as last October, but argues it reflects a more positive outlook.
From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026
“Gold’s direction will remain closely tied to developments in the Middle East and their impact on energy prices and inflation expectations,” the financial markets strategist adds.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026
"This is the most unsettled race for California governor I've ever seen," said Garry South, a long-time Democratic strategist who has managed four gubernatorial campaigns in the state.
From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026
She wanted to come back herself, but Zeus was not going to let his number one strategist leave his side while we’re bat- tling Typhon.
From "The Last Olympian" by Rick Riordan
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.
