docent

noun

do·​cent ˈdō-sᵊnt  dō(t)-ˈsent 

1

: a college or university teacher or lecturer

2

: a person who leads guided tours especially through a museum or art gallery

Did you know?

The title of docent is used in many countries for what Americans would call an associate professor—that is, a college or university teacher who has been given tenure but hasn't yet achieved the rank of full professor. But in the U.S. a docent is a guide who works at a museum, a historical site, or even a zoo or a park. Docents are usually volunteers, and their services are often free of charge.

Examples of docent in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

As part of the nation’s 250 celebration and Historic Preservation Month, a variety of buildings will be open to the public, with no admission cost — there will be a lot to see, with docents to advise you along the way. —Janet Kusterer, Baltimore Sun, 9 May 2026

During their recent visit, the three docents set up scopes to zoom in on the nest. —Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 8 May 2026

Tauck includes private or exclusive visits such as early access to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, a private Niagara Falls boat excursion and a Chicago architectural cruise led by expert docents. —Malika Bowling, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026

Regardless of their final career path, every intern's first assignment is learning to be a docent, mastering the art of guiding visitors on a tour. —La'tasha Givens, CBS News, 28 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

obsolete German (now Dozent), from Latin docent-, docens, present participle of docēre — see docile

First Known Use

1880, in the meaning defined at sense 1