specialist

noun

spe·​cial·​ist ˈspe-sh(ə-)list 

1

: one who specializes in a particular occupation, practice, or field of study

a specialist in disorders of the immune system

a specialist in international law

"What does Dr. James Mortimer, the man of science, ask of Sherlock Holmes, the specialist in crime?"

—Arthur Conan Doyle

2

: an enlisted rank in the U.S. Army corresponding to the grade of corporal

also : any of several former enlisted ranks corresponding to the grades of sergeant through sergeant major

3

: an organism (such as a bird) specialized especially in food or habitat

specialist adjective

or specialistic

ˌspe-shə-ˈli-stik 

Examples of specialist in a Sentence

She consulted a marketing specialist when she decided to go into business.

He saw a specialist for his foot problem.

Recent Examples on the Web

Subsequent appointments have left Ash and her medical specialists trying to understand her symptoms. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 1 Mar. 2025

Dubbed the Super Cygnet and described as the world’s smallest supercar, it is offered by Nicholas Mee & Company, a British Aston Martin specialist. —Alistair Charlton, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025

And that's critical, because a person infected with measles can be contagious from four days before the telltale measles rash appears, until four days after, says Dr. Carla Garcia Carreno, a pediatric infectious disease specialist with Children's Medical Center Plano in Texas. —Alyson Hurt, NPR, 28 Feb. 2025

After experts from Evident Scientific measured it via light microscope, specialists at Spectrographic Limited also verified its size. —Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1836, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing specialist

• specialist shop
• sub-specialist

Kids Definition

specialist

noun

spe·​cial·​ist ˈspesh-(ə-)ləst 

1

: a person who studies or works at a special occupation or branch of learning

an eye specialist

2

: an enlisted person in the army with a rank similar to that of corporal

specialist adjective

or specialistic

ˌspesh-ə-ˈlis-tik 

Medical Definition

specialist

noun

spe·​cial·​ist ˈspesh-(ə-)ləst 

: a medical practitioner whose practice is limited to a particular class of patients (as children) or of diseases (as skin diseases) or of technique (as surgery)

especially : a physician who is qualified by advanced training and certification by a specialty examining board to so limit his or her practice