noun
scientist
SIGH-uhn-tist/ˈsaɪəntɪst/
A person who studies or works in a scientific field.
The scientist examines a leaf through a hand lens and records a botanical sketch.
Etymology
Built on scientia, “knowledge,” with a practitioner ending, scientist names someone devoted to science. Whewell modeled it on artist, giving scientific investigators a corresponding general title.
In context
a scientist uses those same chemicals to see bacteria, which inspires a theory
More examples
- Scientists compare their results before drawing conclusions.
- A soil scientist helps farmers choose crops for their land.
- She works as a scientist at a medical research center.
Forms
scientist · scientists
science noun — Systematic study of the natural world.
scientific adjective — Based on science or its methods.
Similar words
- researcher
- A researcher investigates questions, including topics outside scientific fields.
- scholar
- A scholar studies an academic subject, not necessarily a science.