columnist

noun

col·​um·​nist ˈkä-ləm-nist How to pronounce columnist (audio)
-lə-mist
also ˈkäl-yəm-nist, 
-yə-mist
Synonyms of columnistnext
: one who writes a newspaper or magazine column
columnistic
ˌkä-ləm-ˈni-stik How to pronounce columnist (audio)
also ˌkäl-yəm-
adjective

Examples of columnist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In these essays, our columnists follow their curiosity, and explore important but not necessarily answerable scientific questions. — Quanta Magazine, 8 July 2026 Most of the leading liberal intellectuals of the day—Lionel Trilling, George Orwell, Hannah Arendt, Isaiah Berlin, the columnist James Wechsler, and above all Reinhold Niebuhr—did too. — David Brooks, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026 Also in 2018, Prince Mohammed's reputation was tarnished by the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. — ABC News, 8 July 2026 According to gossip columnist Rob Shuter, Swift and her team were veryworried that her longtime rival, Ye (formerly known as Kanye West), might attempt to crash the wedding. — Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 7 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for columnist

Word History

First Known Use

1917, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of columnist was in 1917

Phrases Containing columnist

Browse Nearby Words

column inch
columnist
column of Lissauer
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Columnist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/columnist. Accessed 14 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

columnist

noun
col·​um·​nist ˈkäl-əm-(n)əst How to pronounce columnist (audio)
: a person who writes a newspaper or magazine column
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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