Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

1

expert

play
adjective ex·pert \ˈek-ˌspərt, ik-ˈspərt\

Definition of expert

  1. 1 obsolete :  experienced

  2. 2 :  having, involving, or displaying special skill or knowledge derived from training or experience

expertly

adverb

expertness

noun

See expert defined for English-language learners

See expert defined for kids

Indulge Your Inner Word Nerd

alt-5926e94cc0e45
'Climate' Change
image1694077559
Which Is The Correct Plural Spelling? (It's a Trick Question)
decimate-video
Is it wrong to use 'decimate' to mean 'destroy'?
alt-5929a3df1de57
Trending: Brzezinski: 'The Sine Qua Non of a Stable World Order'

Examples of expert in a Sentence

  1. We received some expert advice.

  2. The company has become expert at adapting its products for new clients.

Origin and Etymology of expert

Middle English, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, from Latin expertus, from past participle of experiri


First Known Use: 14th century

expert Synonyms

Synonyms
adroit, artful, bravura, deft, delicate, dexterous (also dextrous), skillful, masterful, masterly, practiced (also practised), virtuoso, workmanlike
Antonyms
amateur, amateurish, artless, rude, unprofessional, unskillful
Related Words
facile, smooth; artistic, creative, fancy, ingenious, neat; adept, clever, cunning; able, adequate, capable, competent
Near Antonyms
awkward, clumsy, crude, klutzy; ineffective, ineffectual; incompetent, inept

Synonym Discussion of expert

proficient, adept, skilled, skillful, expert mean having great knowledge and experience in a trade or profession. proficient implies a thorough competence derived from training and practice. proficient in translating foreign languages adept implies special aptitude as well as proficiency. adept at doing long division skilled stresses mastery of technique. a skilled surgeon skillful implies individual dexterity in execution or performance. skillful drivers expert implies extraordinary proficiency and often connotes knowledge as well as technical skill. expert in the evaluation of wines
2

expert

play
noun ex·pert \ˈek-ˌspərt\

Definition of expert

  1. :  one with the special skill or knowledge representing mastery of a particular subject

See expert defined for English-language learners

Examples of expert in a Sentence

  1. She was an acknowledged expert on child development.

  2. an expert at planning dinner parties

Origin and Etymology of expert

Middle French, from expert, adjective


First Known Use: 1535

expert Synonyms

Synonyms
ace, adept, artist, authority, cognoscente, connoisseur, crackerjack (also crackajack), dab [chiefly British], dab hand [chiefly British], fiend, geek, guru, hand, hotshot, maestro, master, maven (also mavin), meister, past master, proficient, scholar, shark, sharp, virtuoso, whiz, wizard
Antonyms
amateur, inexpert, nonexpert
Related Words
pro, professional; consultant, hired gun, specialist; addict, aficionado (also afficionado), buff, devotee, enthusiast, fan; craftsman, journeyman; all-rounder [British], jack-of-all-trades, Renaissance man; mistress
Near Antonyms
apprentice, beginner, neophyte, novice; dabbler, dilettante; layman, nonprofessional
3

expert

play
verb ex·pert \ˈek-ˌspərt\

Definition of expert

  1. intransitive verb

  2. :  to serve as an expert

Circa 1889

First Known Use of expert

circa 1889

Phrases Related to EXPERT

Related Phrases

EXPERT Defined for English Language Learners

1

expert

play
adjective ex·pert \ˈek-ˌspərt, ik-ˈspərt\

Definition of expert for English Language Learners

  • : having or showing special skill or knowledge because of what you have been taught or what you have experienced

2

expert

play
noun ex·pert \ˈek-ˌspərt\

Definition of expert for English Language Learners

  • : a person who has special skill or knowledge relating to a particular subject

EXPERT Defined for Kids

1

expert

play
adjective ex·pert \ˈek-ˌspərt, ik-ˈspərt\

Definition of expert for Students

  1. :  showing special skill or knowledge gained from experience or training expert advice an expert salesperson

expertly

adverb
2

expert

play
noun ex·pert \ˈek-ˌspərt\

Definition of expert for Students

  1. :  a person with special skill or knowledge of a subject

Law Dictionary

expert

noun ex·pert

Legal Definition of expert

  1. :  a person with special or superior skill or knowledge in a particular area — see also expert witness at witness

Learn More about expert

  1. See words that rhyme with expert Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for expert Spanish Central: Translation of expert Nglish: Translation of expert for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of expert for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up expert? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

concatenate

play

to link together in a series or chain

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. sine qua non 'Something that is considered essential'

  2. suborn "to induce secretly to do an unlawful thing"

  3. nutjob 'a mentally unbalanced person'

  4. collusion 'Secret cooperation for an illegal or dishonest purpose'

  5. counsel Is it 'council' or 'counsel'?

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

expert

WORD GAMES

Take a 3-minute break and test your skills!

  • winning-words-from-the-national-spelling-bee-logo
  • Which is the correct spelling of the winning word from 1988?
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

alt-5926e94cc0e45
'Climate' Change

No denying this word's history

alt-5925b73b3a62e
'Author' is a Verb

Beyond the mere act of writing

alt-592708149cf54
Don't Catch 'Flack' for Using 'Flak'

How a word for antiaircraft guns came to refer to PR pro

image1694077559
Plural Words With Multiple Spellings

Multiple spellings for "multiple" words.

Ask the Editors

decimate-video
Is it wrong to use 'decimate' to mean 'destroy'?

Language changes

serial-comma
The Serial Comma

Why don't they call it the Merriam-Webster comma?

video-irregardless-grammar-peeve-blend-of-the-synonyms-irrespective-and-regardless
Irregardless

It is in fact a real word (but that doesn't mean you should use it).

video-moose-goose-weird-plurals
Weird Plurals

One goose, two geese. One moose, two... moose. What's up with that?

Word Games

winning-words-from-the-national-spelling-bee-logo
Winning Words from Scripps Spelling Bee Quiz

Can you outdo past winners of the Spelling Bee?

Take the quiz
peter-bruegel-tower-of-babel-painting
Where in the World? A Quiz

Do you know what languages these words come from?

Take the quiz
Name That Thing
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

Take the quiz
SCRABBLE® Sprint
SCRABBLE® Sprint

SCRABBLE® fans, sharpen your skills!

Play the game
Examples: expert in a Sentence
Tip: Synonym Guide