etymologist

noun

et·​y·​mol·​o·​gist ˌe-tə-ˈmä-lə-jist How to pronounce etymologist (audio)
: a specialist in etymology

Examples of etymologist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The word has violent roots — but over time, linguists and etymologists say, its meaning has sometimes been watered down to simply be a playful type of humor. Ayana Archie, NPR, 8 Apr. 2026 The series includes commentary from etymologists, historians, and pop culture figures — including a handful of comedians who take great pleasure in using the words in question (and more) with as much imaginative force as possible. Will Harris, EW.com, 3 Aug. 2025 Culture Glamour spoke with the internet’s favorite etymologist about how the controversial and divisive word became cool. Sam Reed, Glamour, 15 Apr. 2025 Interestingly, etymologists disagree about whether gumbo gets its name from kombo (the Choctaw word for filé) or gombo (the word for okra in several West African languages). Leslie Brenner, Dallas News, 30 Mar. 2023 In a series of essays written for The New England Journal of Medicine between 1971 and 1973, Thomas, a physician, an immunology researcher, and an etymologist, takes a wide-ranging, poetic look at biology. The Editors, Outside Online, 22 Apr. 2020 The job entailed his becoming an etymologist, lexicographer and field worker generally among the native speakers in his own country. Joseph Epstein, WSJ, 10 Aug. 2018

Word History

First Known Use

1604, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of etymologist was in 1604

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Cite this Entry

“Etymologist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/etymologist. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.

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