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
Competing on a shredded ligament sounds risky for long-term knee health, but that’s not necessarily the case, Daniel Kaplan, MD, an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist at NYU Langone Health, tells SELF.
—Korin Miller, SELF, 3 Feb. 2026
Increasingly, kickers are not kids who played soccer most of their lives but dedicated specialists who have trained for this role since elementary school.
—Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 3 Feb. 2026
The Bigger Picture on Better Sleep Sleep specialists emphasize that good sleep is rarely about finding a single hack.
—Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 3 Feb. 2026
The program also provides support and resources to the victims through specialists who help them through the criminal process by accompanying them to court and notifying them of upcoming events along with mental health and counseling services, Raybould said.
—Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for specialist
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Korin Miller, SELF, 3 Feb. 2026
Increasingly, kickers are not kids who played soccer most of their lives but dedicated specialists who have trained for this role since elementary school.
—Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 3 Feb. 2026
The Bigger Picture on Better Sleep Sleep specialists emphasize that good sleep is rarely about finding a single hack.
—Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 3 Feb. 2026
The program also provides support and resources to the victims through specialists who help them through the criminal process by accompanying them to court and notifying them of upcoming events along with mental health and counseling services, Raybould said.
—Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for specialist
Cite this Entry
“Specialist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/specialist. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
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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