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

Will CFOs need to become linguists, too? —Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 19 May 2026

Learn on Your Schedule, Not a Subscription’s Babbel lessons were designed by a team of over 100 expert linguists. —Stackcommerce Team, PC Magazine, 9 May 2026

The pronunciation is part of an American dialect that is losing steam, linguists told NPR. —Ava Berger, NPR, 6 May 2026

With daily-speaker numbers declining census after census, linguist Conchúr Ó Giollagáin warned in 2015 that Irish as a living language — as opposed to a school subject, Duolingo hobby, or urban identity badge — could be gone in about 10 years. —Big Think, 4 May 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