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

For years, the lighthouse was a popular attraction, with tours taking schoolchildren up the 136 winding black iron stairs and docents dressed as 19th-century lightkeepers telling stories of California’s seafaring history. —Paul Rogers, The Mercury News, 4 Aug. 2024

At the Pontiac Transportation Museum, the docents can tell you where each of the more than 70 vehicles under its roof were made. —Liam Rappleye, Detroit Free Press, 25 July 2024

Expert docents lead visitors into the elegance of the Victorian era, exploring its architectural and historical attributes, with engaging stories. —Elaine Rewolinski, Journal Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2024

Tours are led by docents highlighting the history of the original buildings and its furnishings. —Elaine Rewolinski, Journal Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2024

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