linguist

noun

lin·​guist ˈliŋ-gwist 

1

: a person accomplished in languages

especially : one who speaks several languages

2

: a person who specializes in linguistics

Examples of linguist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

These rules are simplified from a set proposed by anthropologist Brent Berlin and linguist Paul Kay in 1969. —Emma R. Hasson, Scientific American, 19 Mar. 2026

One of those dissenters was the linguist Mark Liberman, who lambasted the word numerous times over the years in his blog Language Log. —Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 25 Feb. 2026

At the forefront of that work is Daria Valentin, a Ladin linguist born and raised in Val Badia. —Rebecca Tauber, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2026

This research acts like a cosmic linguist, analyzing subtle spectral signatures to give us unprecedented insight into how these powerful, yet often hidden, forces influence star birth, sculpt galactic gas and orchestrate the evolution of galaxies. —Paul Sutter, Space.com, 11 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

probably borrowed from New Latin linguista, from Latin lingua "tongue, speech, language" + -ista -ist entry 1 — more at tongue entry 1

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

linguist

noun

lin·​guist ˈliŋ-gwəst 

1

: a person skilled in languages

2

: a person who specializes in linguistics