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
See them → Metal detectorists find ancient portrait in Danish field.
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2024
Read Next Metal detectorist stumbles on worn tool — and finds 5,000-year-old artifact.
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2024
Richard Brock was an hour late to a meetup of amateur metal detectorists.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Mar. 2024
While searching a Polish forest in November, a metal detectorist made a rare discovery: a 4,000-year-old copper dagger that may have belonged to an elite warrior.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Mar. 2024
See what was found inside The metal detectorists discovered four brooches, some buckles, a tubular pendant, a bronze bead, a ring and fragments of more broaches, the association said.
—Moira Ritter, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2024
See it → Metal detectorist unearths 'one-of-a-kind' gold treasure from 1,400 years ago.
—Moira Ritter, Miami Herald, 1 Mar. 2024
The metal detectorist found the ring in 2020, reports Arkeonews’ Oguz Kayra.
—Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Feb. 2024
Metal detectorists with the Kujawsko-Pomorska Grupa Poszukiwaczy Historii located the sacrificial site in January 2023 while searching a dry lake near Papowo Biskupie, according to a study published Jan. 24 in the journal Antiquity.
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 24 Jan. 2024
Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2024
Read Next Metal detectorist stumbles on worn tool — and finds 5,000-year-old artifact.
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2024
Richard Brock was an hour late to a meetup of amateur metal detectorists.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Mar. 2024
While searching a Polish forest in November, a metal detectorist made a rare discovery: a 4,000-year-old copper dagger that may have belonged to an elite warrior.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Mar. 2024
See what was found inside The metal detectorists discovered four brooches, some buckles, a tubular pendant, a bronze bead, a ring and fragments of more broaches, the association said.
—Moira Ritter, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2024
See it → Metal detectorist unearths 'one-of-a-kind' gold treasure from 1,400 years ago.
—Moira Ritter, Miami Herald, 1 Mar. 2024
The metal detectorist found the ring in 2020, reports Arkeonews’ Oguz Kayra.
—Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Feb. 2024
Metal detectorists with the Kujawsko-Pomorska Grupa Poszukiwaczy Historii located the sacrificial site in January 2023 while searching a dry lake near Papowo Biskupie, according to a study published Jan. 24 in the journal Antiquity.
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 24 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'detectorist.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near detectorist
Cite this Entry
“Detectorist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detectorist. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share