linguist

noun

lin·​guist ˈliŋ-gwist How to pronounce linguist (audio)
Synonyms of linguistnext
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
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Babbel’s lessons are built by linguists, with a focus on real conversations, cultural context, and practical dialogue. Stackcommerce Team, PC Magazine, 4 Apr. 2026 Yet, linguists say, its impetus harks back to a dark time in American history. Moriah Humiston, NBC news, 3 Apr. 2026 But in little more than an hour, their questions and comments will lead the 25-year-old Winner, an Air Force veteran and linguist working for a National Security Agency contractor, to confess to mailing a classified intelligence document to a news organization. Jim Higgins, jsonline.com, 24 Mar. 2026 These rules are simplified from a set proposed by anthropologist Brent Berlin and linguist Paul Kay in 1969. Emma R. Hasson, Scientific American, 19 Mar. 2026 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 5 Apr. 2026.

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

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