Specialist Meaning

/ˈspɛʃəlɪst/
C1

Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

Listen pronunciation

adjSpecialised, involving detailed knowledge of a restricted topic.

nounSomeone who is an expert in, or devoted to, some specific branch of study or research.

The specialist predicts international tension will build up.
We regard Dr. Brown as the best heart specialist in the United States.
My doctor referred me to a specialist.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The patient was referred to a ____ who only treats brain tumors all day.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
We were referred to a heart ____ because my father needed a more detailed checkup of his pulse.

Borrowed from French spécialiste, equivalent to special + -ist.

"This was a highly specialist job, and it has been very carefully carried out so that it is very hard to see that these windows are now modern replacements." — 2021 December 15, Robin Leleux, “Awards honour the best restoration projects: Special Award: Signal Box Restoration”, in RAIL, number 946, page 57:
"Dr. Robert Leroy Hutton, a retired specialist in internal medicine and a well‐known diagnostician, died yesterday here." — 1964 September 24, “ROBERT L. HUTTON, DIAGNOSTICIAN, 83; Internist Dies —Had Been on Lincoln Hospital Staff”, in The New York Times:
"Most Americans mistakenly believe that they must see specialists for almost every medical problem." — 2017 March 6, Jamie Koufman, “The Specialists’ Stranglehold on Medicine”, in The New York Times:

Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words

CEFR Practice Quiz
The patient was referred to a ____ who only treats brain tumors all day.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
We were referred to a heart ____ because my father needed a more detailed checkup of his pulse.

Expand Your Vocabulary with LexUp

Master English words using smart flashcards, play exciting word rounds, and compete with other learners worldwide.

Browse CEFR Words Alphabetically