essayist

IPA/ˈeseɪɪst/
KK[ˈɛsˌeɪst]IPA/ˈeseɪɪst/

essayist — noun

  • essayistsingular
  • essayistsplural

1. someone whose profession or activity is writing short pieces on various subjects

1.nounB2
Definition

someone whose profession or activity is writing short pieces on various subjects, often sharing personal views or observations

Example

Kwame has worked as an essayist for a popular online magazine for the past decade.

work as + [profession] + for + [publication]

The essayist's latest piece on urban farming sparked a lively discussion among readers.

Common collocations
  • accomplished essayist
  • essayist + writes about
  • essayist + reflects on
  • essayist + explores
  • essayist + contributes to
  • essayist + pens
  • noted essayist
  • essayist + muses on
Synonyms
  • author

    broader term — any writer of published works, not limited to short personal pieces

  • writer

    general term — anyone who writes, including professionals and amateurs across all genres

  • columnist

    writes regular pieces for newspapers or magazines, often on current events; more journalistic than literary

  • commentator

    focuses on giving opinions about news and society, typically in broadcast or digital media

Usage Note

Unlike a journalist who reports facts or a novelist who writes fiction, an essayist typically writes short, personal pieces that blend observation, reflection, and argument on a chosen topic.

Common Mistakes

She works as an essayist for the local newspaper reporting city council meetings.
She works as a reporter for the local newspaper covering city council meetings.
'essayist' describes writers of personal or reflective pieces, not news reporters.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

An essayist writes short, personal pieces that mix observation with reflection — the focus is on a distinctive voice and personal perspective rather than breaking news or strict facts. A columnist also writes regularly for a publication, but columns are usually shorter, tied to current events, and appear in newspapers or news websites. An author has a broader scope: any writer of a published work, from novels to textbooks. Writer is the most general term, covering everyone from poets to technical copywriters. A commentator gives opinions on news, politics, or culture, often on radio, television, or blogs. For example, you might turn to an essayist for a thoughtful personal essay on city life, a columnist for a weekly opinion piece on local politics, and a commentator for instant analysis of a televised debate.

essayist ↗columnist ↗author ↗writer ↗commentator ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • as an essayist
  • essayist in residence

Prepositions

Etymology

FrenchEnglish

The word 'essayist' combines 'essay' (from French 'essai', meaning 'attempt' or 'trial') with the suffix '-ist' (meaning a person who practices something). The French writer Michel de Montaigne first used the term 'essais' for his short personal writings in 1580, treating them as 'attempts' to explore an idea. The English word 'essayist' appeared in the early 1600s, soon after the essay became a popular literary form in England.

First known use

1601

1601, in the meaning defined above