opportunist

noun

op·​por·​tun·​ist ˌä-pər-ˈtü-nist 

-ˈtyü-

: one that is opportunistic or that practices opportunism

a slick, shady, amoral opportunist who has only one desire: to get through life without a day of labor

—Allan Ulrich

Most burglars are opportunists.

opportunist adjective

Synonyms

• acrobat
• chameleon
• chancer [British]
• temporizer
• timeserver
• trimmer
• weathercock

Examples of opportunist in a Sentence

a political opportunist who changed his health-care plan to win the election

ever the opportunist, she immediately set about becoming the incoming administrator's new best friend

Recent Examples on the Web

Some characters might be true believers in the revolution while others might just be opportunists looking to better their lot in life. —Rob Wieland, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024

The man is an opportunist, grabbing any lever of power to keep himself from drowning. —Nina Turner, Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2024

Bill is an opportunist, publicity hound and narcissist, according to his ex-wife, Dani. —Joe Otterson, Variety, 25 Oct. 2024

Such missed chances sit uncomfortably alongside a view of Putin as a master opportunist. —Peter Schroeder, Foreign Affairs, 3 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

opportun(ism) + -ist entry 1, probably after French opportuniste

First Known Use

1873, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

opportunist

noun

op·​por·​tun·​ist -ˈt(y)ü-nəst 

: one that is opportunistic or that practices opportunism

opportunist adjective

Medical Definition

opportunist

noun

op·​por·​tun·​ist ˌäp-ər-ˈt(y)ü-nəst 

: an opportunistic microorganism