specialist
noun
spe·cial·ist
ˈspe-sh(ə-)list 
1
: one who specializes in a particular occupation, practice, or field of study
a specialist in disorders of the immune system
a specialist in international law
"What does Dr. James Mortimer, the man of science, ask of Sherlock Holmes, the specialist in crime?"—
Arthur Conan Doyle
Arthur Conan Doyle2
: an enlisted rank in the U.S. Army corresponding to the grade of corporal
also
: any of several former enlisted ranks corresponding to the grades of sergeant through sergeant major
3
: an organism (such as a bird) specialized especially in food or habitat
Examples of specialist in a Sentence
She consulted a marketing specialist when she decided to go into business.
He saw a specialist for his foot problem.
Recent Examples on the Web
Clay Bishop, animal care specialist at ACS, shared the emotional farewell from staff.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 May 2025
Aside from a handful of bag specialists based at the Hermès headquarters on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré in Paris, they’re all housed under the same roof.
—Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 24 May 2025
In the beginning, photography was largely a specialists’ medium, the domain of a few inventors and commercial studios.
—Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 24 May 2025
For instance, seeing a specialist might not be covered by insurance, and even visiting a primary care physician may require taking too much time off work or paying for childcare.
—Lynya Floyd, Allure, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for specialist
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Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 May 2025
Aside from a handful of bag specialists based at the Hermès headquarters on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré in Paris, they’re all housed under the same roof.
—Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 24 May 2025
In the beginning, photography was largely a specialists’ medium, the domain of a few inventors and commercial studios.
—Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 24 May 2025
For instance, seeing a specialist might not be covered by insurance, and even visiting a primary care physician may require taking too much time off work or paying for childcare.
—Lynya Floyd, Allure, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for specialist
Cite this Entry
“Specialist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/specialist. Accessed 28 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
specialist
noun
spe·cial·ist
ˈspesh-(ə-)ləst
1
: a person who studies or works at a special occupation or branch of learning
an eye specialist
2
: an enlisted person in the army with a rank similar to that of corporal
Medical Definition
specialist
noun
spe·cial·ist
ˈspesh-(ə-)ləst
: a medical practitioner whose practice is limited to a particular class of patients (as children) or of diseases (as skin diseases) or of technique (as surgery)
especially
: a physician who is qualified by advanced training and certification by a specialty examining board to so limit his or her practice
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