linguist

noun

lin·​guist ˈliŋ-gwist 

1

: a person accomplished in languages

especially : one who speaks several languages

2

: a person who specializes in linguistics

Examples of linguist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But the trio also emphasized the contributions of the production teams, which included designers, fight coordinators and a linguist who created Chakobsa, the language spoken by the Fremen in the film. —Kai Naima Williams, Variety, 19 Dec. 2024

How forensic linguists use grammar, syntax and vocabulary to help crack cold cases. —Justin Salhani, The Dial, 19 Dec. 2024

Among those in the group are cultural anthropologists, master tattooists, linguists, geographers, historians and choreographers from Somoa, Tonga, Tahiti and the Solomon Islands, as well as Native Hawaiian deep-sea navigators. —Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 17 Dec. 2024

For example, the Classical Period from 510 B.C. to 323 B.C. is one where Greeks weren't learning many other languages, says Eleanor Dickey, a linguist and professor of the Classics at the University of Reading. —Sara Novak, Discover Magazine, 28 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

probably borrowed from New Latin linguista, from Latin lingua "tongue, speech, language" + -ista -ist entry 1 — more at tongue entry 1

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

linguist

noun

lin·​guist ˈliŋ-gwəst 

1

: a person skilled in languages

2

: a person who specializes in linguistics