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

The market has already come to the understanding that a B2B portal isn't an online shop for B2B customers but a business application designed to make the work of procurement specialists (B2B buyers) more efficient. —Evgeny Grigul, Forbes, 13 Sep. 2024

Only four of the team’s 13 varsity players are seniors: setter Reagan Maguire, defensive specialist Alyssa Hunnicutt and hitters Addison Evans and Madison Coleman. —Steve Galluzzo, Los Angeles Times, 12 Sep. 2024

Trending Video Interior Designer Fixes 5 Peoples' Living Rooms Moe Soloff, kitchen specialist with the cabinet manufacturer Fabuwood, also points to the rise of non-toxic, low-VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) paints as another reason to consider this low-lift kitchen makeover. —Kenzi Wilbur, Architectural Digest, 11 Sep. 2024

Path to Dry Eye Diagnosis The path to determining the cause of your sudden dry eyes will usually begin with an ophthalmologist or optometrist (two types of eye specialists) taking a history to determine what may have caused the symptom. —Maxine Lipner, Verywell Health, 11 Sep. 2024

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