biochemist

IPA/ˌbaɪəʊˈkemɪst/
KK[bˌaɪokˈɛməst]IPA/ˌbaɪəʊˈkemɪst/

biochemist — noun

  • biochemistsingular
  • biochemistsplural

1. a scientist whose work focuses on the chemical processes inside living things, s

1.nounC1
Definition

a scientist whose work focuses on the chemical processes inside living things, such as cells, blood, or plants

Example

Sofia became a biochemist after studying how cancer cells use sugar.

become a biochemist after research study

At the vaccine lab, Adaeze works as a biochemist on protein tests.

work as a biochemist in a lab

Common collocations
  • hospital biochemist
  • research biochemist
  • become a biochemist
  • work as a biochemist
Synonyms
  • researcher

    a broader word for someone who studies a subject, not specifically chemistry in living things

  • scientist

    a very general term that does not name this exact field

  • biologist

    someone who studies living things more generally, not mainly their chemical activity

Grammar Patterns

be a biochemist

work as a biochemist

a biochemist studies proteins

Usage Note

Usually refers to someone's job or research role, often in a lab, hospital, or university. Use biochemistry for the subject itself, not biochemist.

Common Mistakes

She studies biochemist at college.
She studies biochemistry at college.
Biochemist is a person; biochemistry is the subject.
My sister is a biochemistry in a drug company.
My sister is a biochemist in a drug company.
Use biochemist for a person's job title.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Biochemist is more specific than scientist or researcher because it names a scientist who studies chemical activity in living things. It overlaps with biologist because both fields deal with life, but biologist is broader and may focus on animals, plants, ecology, or evolution rather than chemistry. Compared with chemist, biochemist points to the chemistry of cells, proteins, enzymes, and other parts of living systems, not just chemistry in general. In everyday use, scientist is the safest broad word, but biochemist is the right choice when the person's work is clearly in this field.

biologist ↗chemist ↗researcher ↗scientist ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • hospital biochemist
  • research biochemist
  • senior biochemist

Phrases

  • become a biochemist
  • work as a biochemist
  • talk to a biochemist

Prepositions

  • biochemist at a university
  • biochemist in a lab

Etymology

GreekEnglish

Biochemist is a modern English word formed from biochemistry and the suffix -ist. The bio- part comes from Greek bios, meaning life, and the word names a specialist in the chemistry of living systems.