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

2

: 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

specialist adjective

or specialistic

ˌspe-shə-ˈli-stik 

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

Working alongside specialists from the University of Nevada, Reno, and Idaho National Laboratory, researchers will combine computer modeling with direct laboratory experiments. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 4 Oct. 2026

Mubin, a New York director-producer, co-founded the festival with filmmaker and post-production specialist Giuseppe de Matteis. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 3 Oct. 2026

Some services also provide access to restoration specialists who can help if identity fraud occurs. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026

Postnikoff, a comms and marketing specialist who helped shape the international profiles of Schitt’s Creek and Anne With an E, has been working at Wild Cards maker Blink49 since June last year. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 2 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1836, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing specialist

• specialist shop
• sub-specialist

Kids 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

specialist adjective

or specialistic

ˌspesh-ə-ˈlis-tik 

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