expert

1 of 3

noun

ex·​pert ˈek-ˌspərt How to pronounce expert (audio)
: one with the special skill or knowledge representing mastery of a particular subject

expert

2 of 3

adjective

1
: having, involving, or displaying special skill or knowledge derived from training or experience
2
obsolete : experienced
expertly adverb
expertness noun

expert

3 of 3

verb

ex·​pert ˈek-ˌspərt How to pronounce expert (audio)
experted; experting; experts

intransitive verb

: to serve as an expert
Choose the Right Synonym for expert

proficient, adept, skilled, skillful, expert mean having great knowledge and experience in a trade or profession.

proficient implies a thorough competence derived from training and practice.

proficient in translating foreign languages

adept implies special aptitude as well as proficiency.

adept at doing long division

skilled stresses mastery of technique.

a skilled surgeon

skillful implies individual dexterity in execution or performance.

skillful drivers

expert implies extraordinary proficiency and often connotes knowledge as well as technical skill.

expert in the evaluation of wines

Examples of expert in a Sentence

Noun She was an acknowledged expert on child development. an expert at planning dinner parties Adjective We received some expert advice. The company has become expert at adapting its products for new clients.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Even so, James and Jennifer Crumbley’s guilty verdicts could set an important precedent for who besides the shooter can be held responsible for a mass shooting, though such cases remain uncommon, experts said. Dalia Faheid, CNN, 15 Mar. 2024 As images generated and altered by AI go mainstream, communications experts tell Fortune’s Sydney Lake, people will have to accept a new and unreliable reality. Nick Rockel, Fortune, 15 Mar. 2024 That’s where professor Adler R. Dillman, chair of UC Riverside’s Department of Nematology (study of roundworms) and an expert on parasitology, and a team of researchers and students recently unmasked their culprit. Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024 Smaller rental developments also will likely need public financing help, housing industry experts say, as well as building code changes. Tom Daykin, Journal Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2024 Chewing your food properly is something to consider too–experts suggest chewing each bite at least 20 to 30 times, to allow the satiety signal to move from your taste buds to brain. Alessandra Signorelli, Vogue, 14 Mar. 2024 Based on the astrolabe’s engravings, Gigante—an expert on Islamic scientific instruments—concluded that it was likely made in the Iberian Peninsula’s Andalusian region in the 11th century. Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Mar. 2024 The two species are so similar in size and color that even experts have a tough time telling them apart. Louis Sahagún, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2024 With recordings, interviews and photographs, Beatles expert Om Srivastava leads discussion of the Fab Four’s worldwide impact. Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 3 Mar. 2024
Adjective
Keep scrolling Here's expert advice for your first solo trip. USA TODAY, 13 Mar. 2024 But thanks to the expert detail work—those gloves!—this piece from the spring 2024 couture collection would bring a bit of (very welcome) pizzazz. Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 7 Mar. 2024 Tax Advisor: Provides expert advice on tax planning and compliance, helping individuals and businesses use tax accounting to minimize their tax liabilities while adhering to tax laws. Bryce Welker, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2024 Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Noëlle De Leeuw, New York Times, 1 Mar. 2024 Since then, the platform has been accelerating its search for expert data laborers. Morgan Meaker, WIRED, 20 Feb. 2024 This sheet reflects an average of five expert tasting notes, recorded by a diverse panel of judges who use multiple languages. Jill Barth, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 At its best, fintech can foster financial flexibility and provide expert information to the public. Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 22 Feb. 2024 Sophie also received expert insight from celebrity esthetician Joanna Vargas and Glowbar CEO and founder Rachel Liverman on the benefits of gua sha and other facial tools and the most important things to consider when shopping for them. Sophie Dodd, Peoplemag, 22 Feb. 2024
Verb
Rent a cabin for the weekend or try the off-road mountain bike trails, graded from beginner to expert. Miami Staff, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024 Sew for Love is a group of sewers from the South Bay community–ranging in skill from beginner to expert–who sew a variety of projects that are then donated to people in the community who need them. Shae Hammond, The Mercury News, 12 Jan. 2024 Showgoers can look forward to expert bonsai demonstrations, as well as a sale featuring hundreds of trees, plants, pots and other bonsai merchandise offered by SDBC members. San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Apr. 2023 Meanwhile, Los Angeles County area residents can expert unusually warm temperatures on Thursday along the coast and valleys before dipping again over the weekend. Andrew J. Campastaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2023 According to the Louisville National Weather Service, a heat wave that began in earnest Monday afternoon is the result of dry southern winds descending on the area, and residents should expert temperatures between 90 and 100 throughout the coming weeks. Thomas Birmingham, The Courier-Journal, 13 June 2022 Toby Grey contributes as a How To expert for BGR. Toby Grey, BGR, 24 May 2022 Medium-impact activities are somewhere in between, such as more intense cycling, intermediate to expert hikes and elliptical training, to name a few. Nicola Fumo, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Jan. 2023 Rather than a full head of highlights distributed uniformly through the hair, French women prefer to get their hair colored with a more freestyle (but still expert) touch. Hannah Coates, Vogue, 3 Jan. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'expert.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

borrowed from French, going back to Middle French, derivative of expert expert entry 2

Adjective

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin expertus "tested, shown to be true," from past participle of experīrī "to put to the test, attempt, have experience of, undergo" — more at experience entry 1

Verb

derivative of expert entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1535, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

circa 1889, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of expert was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near expert

Cite this Entry

“Expert.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/expert. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

expert

1 of 2 adjective
: showing special skill or knowledge gained from training or experience
expert advice
expertly adverb
expertness noun

expert

2 of 2 noun
ex·​pert ˈek-ˌspərt How to pronounce expert (audio)
: a person with special skill in or knowledge of a subject

Legal Definition

expert

noun
ex·​pert
: a person with special or superior skill or knowledge in a particular area see also expert witness at witness

More from Merriam-Webster on expert

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!