linguist

noun

lin·​guist ˈliŋ-gwist How to pronounce linguist (audio)
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
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.
Summarizing decades of research in an article published in 2016, an all-star team of cognitive scientists and linguists specializing in reading ability and visual perception debunked both of these tenets. Big Think, 16 Sep. 2025 The security agency easily identified Winner, a crypto linguist, as the source of the leak. Terry Gross, NPR, 11 Sep. 2025 There’s a strange new study from the University of Florida that has linguists and grammarians talking – about words. John Werner, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025 All 14 languages included: Spanish, French, Italian, German, Turkish, and more. 10,000+ hours of lessons designed by 100+ expert linguists. PC Magazine, 15 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for linguist

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of linguist was in 1591

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Cite this Entry

“Linguist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/linguist. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

linguist

noun
lin·​guist ˈliŋ-gwəst How to pronounce linguist (audio)
1
: a person skilled in languages
2
: a person who specializes in linguistics

More from Merriam-Webster on linguist

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