specialist 1 of 2

noun

Definition of specialistnext
as in professional
a person who has a lot of training, knowledge, or skill in a particular area She was a specialist in chemical engineering with many years of experience.

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

specialist

2 of 2

adjective

variants or specialistic
as in specialized
involving, related to, or being special skills or knowledge needed to do a particular job The job requires specialist knowledge.

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of specialist
Noun
Florida has just 52 certified headache specialists, so for a worker in rural Florida, a diagnosis can mean a lost day’s wages and a long drive. — Brian T. Bailey, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Sep. 2026 The defense would have benefitted from calling a specialist in postpartum mood disorders to explain how easily psychotic symptoms can be missed in high-functioning new mothers. — Eren Orbey, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026
Adjective
Bertrams, who grew up in Australia, served as the specialist punter for Wisconsin last season, averaging more than 41 yards per punt. — Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Aug. 2026 The San Francisco Bay Area still leads in raw AI-specialist numbers and has a higher concentration of AI job postings overall (26%, versus 17% in New York). — Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for specialist
Recent Examples of Synonyms for specialist
  1. professional
  2. specialized
  3. consultant
  4. expert
  5. master
  6. technical
  7. special
Noun
  • Hurzeler values 36-year-old Steele’s dressing room input, which is even more relevant now after a summer cull of the core group of experienced professionals.
    — Andy Naylor, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • However, gardening and landscape professionals assured us that brown boxwoods can be saved, as long as the plant itself is still alive.
    — The Spruce, The Spruce, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of professional
Adjective
  • The size and specialized nature of these loads can also create opportunities for carriers to take on new customers and routes.
    — Kevin Williams, CNBC, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Generating, detecting, and controlling light requires specialized components, and integrating lasers with silicon can be difficult because silicon itself is not an efficient light-producing material.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of specialized
Noun
  • Recently, my ex started working at my company as a consultant.
    — R. Eric Thomas, Washington Post, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Liu previously worked as a software engineer, corporate lawyer, and litigation consultant.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of consultant
Adjective
  • Being an experienced or even expert meditator didn’t necessarily protect people.
    — Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Learn when and how to harvest blanket flower seeds, along with expert tips for storing and sowing, to keep the blooms coming without having to make a trip to the garden center next season.
    — Gemma Johnstone, The Spruce, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of expert
Noun
  • The fragrances have been in development for roughly two-and-a-half years and were created with master perfumers Frank Voelkl and Shyamala Maisondieu.
    — Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 9 Sep. 2026
  • That data monitoring, in addition to master literacy coaches at each CMS campus to address specific student learning needs, has made a big impact, Balknight said.
    — Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of master
Adjective
  • Yarbo later acknowledged the core technical findings and began rolling out fixes.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2026
  • The team split the technical analysis into two distinct parts.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of technical
Adjective
  • An 85-yard punt return for a touchdown late in the third quarter gave Oregon a 27-20 lead, and after Boise State battled back to go ahead 34-27, the Broncos’ special teams unit gave up a game-tying 100-yard kickoff return.
    — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 4 Sep. 2026
  • On the other hand, Sanders and the Buffaloes will need to work on special teams despite Carter’s brilliant rush off the edge during that field goal block.
    — Scott Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of special

Browse Nearby Words

specialisms
specialist
specialists
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Specialist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/specialist. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of loath

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All