detectorist
noun
de·tec·tor·ist
di-ˈtek-t(ə-)rist 
plural detectorists
chiefly British
: one who uses a portable metal detector as a hobby
The trove was discovered in October near Watlington, 40 miles (65 kilometers) west of London, by 60-year-old James Mather, an amateur treasure-seeker who called the find "every detectorist's dream."—
Alastair Grant
Alastair GrantThe third, known as the Crosby Garrett Helmet, was found in a field in 2010 by a metal detectorist who wants to remain anonymous. It was sold at auction for $3.6 million.—Brad Smithfield
Brad SmithfieldExamples of detectorist in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In early 2019, seven metal detectorists found a cache of 2,584 coins dating to the Norman Conquest in southern England.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Oct. 2024
One of the most historic hoards ever found was discovered in England by a metal detectorist, called the Staffordshire Hoard.
—Ashlyn Messier, Fox News, 23 Oct. 2024
Adam Staples and Lisa Grace found the bulk of the coins, estimated to be from the years 1066-68, in January 2019 alongside five other amateur metal detectorists in the Chew Valley area, 11 miles south of the city of Bristol.
—Hannah Peart, NBC News, 23 Oct. 2024
The hoard was uncovered by a metal detectorist near the Church of Scotland in Balmaghie, Kirkcudbrightshire.
—Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for detectorist 
Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Oct. 2024
One of the most historic hoards ever found was discovered in England by a metal detectorist, called the Staffordshire Hoard.
—Ashlyn Messier, Fox News, 23 Oct. 2024
Adam Staples and Lisa Grace found the bulk of the coins, estimated to be from the years 1066-68, in January 2019 alongside five other amateur metal detectorists in the Chew Valley area, 11 miles south of the city of Bristol.
—Hannah Peart, NBC News, 23 Oct. 2024
The hoard was uncovered by a metal detectorist near the Church of Scotland in Balmaghie, Kirkcudbrightshire.
—Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for detectorist
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'detectorist.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Detectorist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detectorist. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.
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