detectorist
noun
de·tec·tor·ist
di-ˈtek-t(ə-)rist 
plural detectorists
chiefly British
: one who uses a portable metal detector as a hobby
The trove was discovered in October near Watlington, 40 miles (65 kilometers) west of London, by 60-year-old James Mather, an amateur treasure-seeker who called the find "every detectorist's dream."—
Alastair Grant
Alastair GrantThe third, known as the Crosby Garrett Helmet, was found in a field in 2010 by a metal detectorist who wants to remain anonymous. It was sold at auction for $3.6 million.—Brad Smithfield
Brad SmithfieldExamples of detectorist in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The item captured the imagination of about 45,000 individuals who donated 380,000 pounds alongside funding provided by the National Heritage Memorial Fund and other trusts to raise the price tag, half of which goes to the detectorist and half to the landowner.
—Reuters, NBC news, 10 Feb. 2026
How the hoard was buried in the first place remains unclear, Messal said, because the detectorist's improper excavation destroyed the original archaeological context.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 23 Jan. 2026
The club hosts an annual hunt that draws detectorists across Queensland, with participants traveling from Mackay, Bundaberg, and the Sunshine Coast.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2025
For more than a decade, an Australian metal detectorist searched and collected historical items on the country’s east coast, including a national park.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for detectorist
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.
Reuters, NBC news, 10 Feb. 2026
How the hoard was buried in the first place remains unclear, Messal said, because the detectorist's improper excavation destroyed the original archaeological context.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 23 Jan. 2026
The club hosts an annual hunt that draws detectorists across Queensland, with participants traveling from Mackay, Bundaberg, and the Sunshine Coast.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2025
For more than a decade, an Australian metal detectorist searched and collected historical items on the country’s east coast, including a national park.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for detectorist
Cite this Entry
“Detectorist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detectorist. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
