expert

1 of 3

noun

ex·​pert ˈek-ˌspərt 

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

expert

2 of 3

adjective

ex·​pert ˈek-ˌspərt  ik-ˈspərt 

1

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

2

obsolete : experienced

expertly adverb

expertness noun

expert

3 of 3

verb

ex·​pert ˈek-ˌspərt 

experted; experting; experts

intransitive verb

: to serve as an expert

Synonyms

Noun

• master
• guru
• virtuoso
• wizard
• scholar
• specialist
• artist
• authority
• whiz
• maestro

Adjective

• virtuoso
• skillful
• artistic

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

Examples of expert in a Sentence

Noun

She was an acknowledged expert on child development.

an expert at planning dinner parties

Adjective

We received some expert advice.

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Bewildered, the space weather expert wanted to know if there could be space weather events that were smaller than coronal mass ejections and did not originate directly from solar eruptions. —JSTOR Daily, 24 Oct. 2025

Today, nuclear risks are escalating across nearly every measure, and many experts agree that the risk a nuclear weapon will be used — on purpose or by accident — is at the highest point since the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. —Ernest J. Moniz, Variety, 23 Oct. 2025

Adjective

Subscribe to the Life Kit newsletter for expert advice on love, money, relationships and more. —Brittney Melton, NPR, 29 Oct. 2025

For full daily and monthly horoscopes as well as expert readings, see our full Horoscopes experience. —Usa Today, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025

Verb

Can expert lectures in bars improve civil discourse? —Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 18 Sep. 2025

This is why computer scientists should not be left to create benchmarks for real world professional tasks without deferring to expert advice from people working in those professions. —Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

borrowed from French, going back to Middle French, derivative of expert expert entry 2

Adjective

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin expertus "tested, shown to be true," from past participle of experīrī "to put to the test, attempt, have experience of, undergo" — more at experience entry 1

Verb

derivative of expert entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1535, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

circa 1889, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing expert

• efficiency expert
• expert opinion
• expert system
• expert witness

Rhymes for expert

• inexpert

Kids Definition

expert

1 of 2 adjective

ex·​pert ˈek-ˌspərt  ik-ˈspərt 

: showing special skill or knowledge gained from training or experience

expert advice

expertly adverb

expertness noun

expert

2 of 2 noun

ex·​pert ˈek-ˌspərt 

: a person with special skill in or knowledge of a subject

Legal Definition

expert

noun

ex·​pert

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