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
Saturday’s flight was the 13th with supplies for Gaza by Samaritan’s Purse and its disaster response specialists.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 25 Oct. 2025
It was instead broadcast via a specialist beauty and pageantry streaming service.
—Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
People are also very concerned about quality, even though most are satisfied with their own specialists and care providers, there are several administrative inefficiencies that people are concerned about and other factors.
—Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
For that, Journe turned to Ambroise Paré, a 16th-century barber surgeon and prosthetic limbs specialist, for inspiration.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for specialist
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Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 25 Oct. 2025
It was instead broadcast via a specialist beauty and pageantry streaming service.
—Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
People are also very concerned about quality, even though most are satisfied with their own specialists and care providers, there are several administrative inefficiencies that people are concerned about and other factors.
—Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
For that, Journe turned to Ambroise Paré, a 16th-century barber surgeon and prosthetic limbs specialist, for inspiration.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 24 Oct. 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 31 Oct. 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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