linguist

noun

lin·​guist ˈliŋ-gwist 

1

: a person accomplished in languages

especially : one who speaks several languages

2

: a person who specializes in linguistics

Examples of linguist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

It was developed by a team of over 100 expert linguists. —New Atlas, 28 Nov. 2024

The author of this engaging memoir is a linguist who focusses on the relationship between language and psychology. —The New Yorker, 25 Nov. 2024

Attempts to catalogue them involve missionaries, brands, and a passion project run by a handful of linguists. —The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 5 Nov. 2024

No one in the nearly century-long history of the bee has been able to memorize the more than 500,000 words in Webster’s Unabridged dictionary, any of which can be selected for inclusion by Scripps’ word panel of former bee champions, linguists and other experts. —Ben Nuckols, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

probably borrowed from New Latin linguista, from Latin lingua "tongue, speech, language" + -ista -ist entry 1 — more at tongue entry 1

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

linguist

noun

lin·​guist ˈliŋ-gwəst 

1

: a person skilled in languages

2

: a person who specializes in linguistics