C1nounlanguageacademic
US/ˈlɪŋ.ɡwɪst/
UK/ˈlɪŋ.ɡwɪst/
a person who studies language and how it works, or who speaks many languages
In context
The linguist spent years recording a language spoken by only a few hundred people.
Linguists disagree about how children learn their first language.
She is a gifted linguist and speaks six languages fluently.
Words that go with linguist
adjective + noun
- leading linguistA leading linguist will give the opening lecture.
- gifted linguistAs a gifted linguist, he picked up Thai in a few months.
- computational linguistThe company hired a computational linguist to improve its software.
- applied linguistShe trained as an applied linguist before moving into teaching.
- trained linguistOnly a trained linguist could describe the sound system so exactly.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:
She is a linguistic.Correct: She is a linguist.