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

What’s happening now could be a repeat of that, said Katie Bernstein, an applied linguist and professor of early childhood education at Arizona State University. — Rafael Carranza, ProPublica, 16 Sep. 2026

Theoretical linguist Noam Chomsky argued that language could not be adequately explained simply as a collection of behaviors learned through reinforcement. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 Sep. 2026

Babbel teaches 14 languages, including Spanish, French, German, and Italian, with lessons written by more than 150 linguists rather than generated by AI. — Stackcommerce Team, PC Magazine, 6 Sep. 2026

That posh accent is a relatively modern invention, linguist John McWhorter wrote earlier this year in the New York Times. — Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 23 Aug. 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