generalist

noun

gen·​er·​al·​ist ˈjen-rə-list 

ˈje-nə-

: one whose skills, interests, or habits are varied or unspecialized

Examples of generalist in a Sentence

The staff includes both generalists and specialists.

Recent Examples on the Web

Generalist roles, such as the digital marketing generalist, suggest a more holistic approach to marketing. —Sowmya Moni, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024

This doesn’t necessarily mean that ladybugs are generalists that can thrive in any ecosystem, though. —Katie Liu, Discover Magazine, 7 Oct. 2024

All the species involved are generalists that eat crustaceans, fish and mollusks, but whoever was able to catch the prey got a meal. —Evan Bush, NBC News, 23 Sep. 2024

Startups and new ventures often operate with tight budgets and limited resources, necessitating a focus on generalists who can handle a wide range of tasks rather than specialists with deep expertise in a single area. —Pandwe Gibson, Forbes, 11 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1606, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

generalist

noun

gen·​er·​al·​ist ˈjen-(ə-)rə-ləst 

: a person whose skills or interests extend to several different fields

Medical Definition

generalist

noun

gen·​er·​al·​ist ˈjen-(ə-)rə-ləst 

: an individual whose skills or interests extend to several different medical fields

especially : general practitioner