alpinist

noun

al·​pin·​ist ˈal-pə-nist 

variants or Alpinist

plural alpinists or Alpinists

1

: a mountain climber specializing in high, difficult ascents

In the world of alpinists Mr. Lowe was a celebrity, tackling routes that seemed impossible to other climbers and with as little equipment as he could.

—Daniel E. Slotnik

… on the top of the fifth highest mountain in the continental U.S., one on which alpinists practice before heading for the Andes and Himalayas …

—Paul Clark

2

: an Alpine skier (see alpine sense 4)

To the dedicated alpinist, cross-country skiing is an amateurish parody of the real art.

—Time

As for the women, the only American Alpinist with a shot at a medal is 20-year-old Cindy Nelson in the downhill.

—Peter Bonventre

Examples of alpinist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

And Kelly Cordes, a climber, alpinist, and author, had a photo of his mullet during an ice climbing competition end up in the New York Times in 2012. —Jesse Klein, Outside, 27 Dec. 2025

Allow ski alpinist Christina Lustenberger to explain. —Outside Online, 10 Dec. 2025

Smith, who also served as second unit director, says within a month of prep, the team of alpinists had run safety and guide lines and the location department set up stream lights throughout the park to accommodate sunrise load-ins and sunset load-outs. —Carole Horst, Variety, 10 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1855, in the meaning defined at sense 1