opportunist

noun

op·​por·​tun·​ist ˌä-pər-ˈtü-nist 

-ˈtyü-

: one that is opportunistic or that practices opportunism

… a slick, shady, amoral opportunist who has only one desire: to get through life without a day of labor …

—Allan Ulrich

Most burglars are opportunists.

opportunist adjective

Synonyms of opportunist

• chameleon

Examples of opportunist in a Sentence

a political opportunist who changed his health-care plan to win the election

ever the opportunist, she immediately set about becoming the incoming administrator's new best friend

Recent Examples on the Web

The exploitation of American history by Beck and the opportunists in his orbit is nothing new. —Alexis Coe, Vanity Fair, 18 Mar. 2026

The defense sought to depict the victims as opportunists out for cash, a narrative that didn’t stand up, with the feds pointing out only two of the women were involved in a litany of outstanding lawsuits. —Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 9 Mar. 2026

Although burly striker Pio Esposito equalized with an opportunist finish 10 minutes later, the home side picked off Inter with two goals in quick succession in the second half. —ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026

Some of those pushing anti-Jewish invective on the right are opportunists. —Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 4 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

opportun(ism) + -ist entry 1, probably after French opportuniste

First Known Use

1873, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for opportunist

• cartoonist
• soonest

Kids Definition

opportunist

noun

op·​por·​tun·​ist -ˈt(y)ü-nəst 

: one that is opportunistic or that practices opportunism

opportunist adjective

Medical Definition

opportunist

noun

op·​por·​tun·​ist ˌäp-ər-ˈt(y)ü-nəst 

: an opportunistic microorganism