docent

noun

do·​cent ˈdō-sᵊnt  dō(t)-ˈsent 

1

: a college or university teacher or lecturer

2

: a person who leads guided tours especially through a museum or art gallery

Did you know?

The title of docent is used in many countries for what Americans would call an associate professor—that is, a college or university teacher who has been given tenure but hasn't yet achieved the rank of full professor. But in the U.S. a docent is a guide who works at a museum, a historical site, or even a zoo or a park. Docents are usually volunteers, and their services are often free of charge.

Examples of docent in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Museum docents lead participants into and out of the installations. —Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025

Staffed with knowledgeable docents, this nature preserve is open year-round and free to enter, but the best time to visit is between October and February, when its winged occupants are here in droves. —Laura Kiniry, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 June 2025

The Del Cerro resident spent her childhood in Coronado and works with the Coronado Historical Association as a docent. —Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 May 2025

Junior rangers: Kids ages 6 to 10 years old can earn a Nature Ranger certificate after following a series of activities led by docents from 9 to 11 a.m. —Pomerado News, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

obsolete German (now Dozent), from Latin docent-, docens, present participle of docēre — see docile

First Known Use

1880, in the meaning defined at sense 1