detectorist
noun
de·tec·tor·ist
di-ˈtek-t(ə-)rist 
plural detectorists
chiefly British
: one who uses a portable metal detector as a hobby
The trove was discovered in October near Watlington, 40 miles (65 kilometers) west of London, by 60-year-old James Mather, an amateur treasure-seeker who called the find "every detectorist's dream."—
Alastair Grant
Alastair GrantThe third, known as the Crosby Garrett Helmet, was found in a field in 2010 by a metal detectorist who wants to remain anonymous. It was sold at auction for $3.6 million.—Brad Smithfield
Brad SmithfieldExamples of detectorist in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Archaeologists recently unveiled remarkable artifacts from Viking graves in Norway — all thanks to a pair of metal detectorists who unwittingly stumbled across the treasure.
—Andrea Margolis, Fox News, 8 Jan. 2025
Read Next World Metal detectorists unearth ancient jewelry — and find Viking ‘grave field’ in Norway
January 02, 2025 12:16 PM
Read Next
World
125-year-old structure with staircase, several hallways unearthed in India.
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 7 Jan. 2025
In the first category, persistence paid off for metal detectorists in Wales and Denmark, who uncovered a 300-year-old silver thimble engraved with a message of enduring love and a 1,500-year-old gold ring that may be linked to the Frankish Merovingian dynasty, respectively.
—Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Dec. 2024
About two years ago, a metal detectorist unearthed a small gold pendant near the town of Attleborough in Norfolk, England.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for detectorist 
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Andrea Margolis, Fox News, 8 Jan. 2025
Read Next World Metal detectorists unearth ancient jewelry — and find Viking ‘grave field’ in Norway
January 02, 2025 12:16 PM
Read Next
World
125-year-old structure with staircase, several hallways unearthed in India.
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 7 Jan. 2025
In the first category, persistence paid off for metal detectorists in Wales and Denmark, who uncovered a 300-year-old silver thimble engraved with a message of enduring love and a 1,500-year-old gold ring that may be linked to the Frankish Merovingian dynasty, respectively.
—Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Dec. 2024
About two years ago, a metal detectorist unearthed a small gold pendant near the town of Attleborough in Norfolk, England.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for detectorist
Dictionary Entries Near detectorist
Cite this Entry
“Detectorist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detectorist. Accessed 16 Jan. 2025.
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