criminalist

noun

crim·​i·​nal·​ist ˈkri-mə-nə-list How to pronounce criminalist (audio)
: a specialist in criminalistics

Examples of criminalist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The current review, known as a Root Cause Analysis, is focused on DNA samples processed by lab scientists, known as criminalists, between March 1, 2024 and Aug. 8, 2024. Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 20 July 2025 Funding for equipment was in flux, hiring was stalled, and some of the top criminalists with vast amounts of institutional knowledge were leaving for higher pay in the private sector. Ariane Lange, Sacramento Bee, 26 Jan. 2025 In Rhode Island, some forensic analysis of firearms was suspended in August after criminalists linked bullet cartridge casings from a 2021 killing to the wrong gun. N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA TODAY, 18 Nov. 2024 And there were those stains on the bedspread, which criminalist Charles Merritt pointed to at trial and described as Bob's blood. Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 30 Mar. 2024 See All Example Sentences for criminalist

Word History

First Known Use

1951, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of criminalist was in 1951

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Cite this Entry

“Criminalist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/criminalist. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

Legal Definition

criminalist

noun
crim·​i·​nal·​ist ˈkri-mə-nə-list How to pronounce criminalist (audio)
: one who practices criminalistics as a profession
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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