hypnotist

IPA/ˈhɪpnətɪst/
KK[hˈɪpnətɪst]IPA/ˈhɪpnətɪst/

hypnotist — noun

  • hypnotistsingular
  • hypnotistsplural

1. A person trained to guide others into a deeply relaxed mental state, either to h

1.nounB2
Definition

A person trained to guide others into a deeply relaxed mental state, either to help change unwanted habits or feelings, or to entertain an audience.

Example

Eshe went to a hypnotist to help her stop smoking after years of failed attempts.

At the office party, a hypnotist made volunteers cluck like chickens on stage.

entertainment context with make + object + bare infinitive

Common collocations
  • see a hypnotist
  • visit a hypnotist
  • certified hypnotist
  • stage hypnotist
  • clinical hypnotist
Synonyms
  • hypnotherapist

    used specifically for therapeutic or clinical settings, not entertainment

  • mesmerist

    old-fashioned term with a more theatrical or historical feel

  • stage hypnotist

    focuses on the entertainment side of the profession

Usage Note

A countable noun referring to a person, not the technique itself (use 'hypnosis' for the practice). Common modifiers include 'stage', 'clinical', 'certified', and 'medical' to specify the context.

Common Mistakes

He went to a hypnosis to quit smoking.
He went to a hypnotist to quit smoking.
'hypnosis' is the technique; a 'hypnotist' is the person who performs it.
She is under hypnotist.
She is under hypnosis.' or 'She is with a hypnotist.
'hypnotist' names a person, not a state or condition.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four terms refer to a person who puts others into a hypnotic state, but the context differs. 'Hypnotist' is the most general term, covering both therapy and entertainment. 'Hypnotherapist' is restricted to clinical settings — this person is usually a licensed healthcare professional who uses hypnosis to treat specific conditions like anxiety or chronic pain. 'Mesmerist' is an older, less common word based on Franz Mesmer's 18th-century theory of animal magnetism; it carries a theatrical or even mystical connotation today. 'Stage hypnotist' refers specifically to performers who put volunteers into a trance for an audience's amusement. Example: A hypnotherapist might help a patient manage fear of flying, while a stage hypnotist might make a volunteer forget their own name for a comedy show.

hypnotist ↗hypnotherapist ↗mesmerist ↗stage hypnotist

Common collocations

Nouns

  • stage hypnotist
  • clinical hypnotist
  • certified hypnotist
  • medical hypnotist

Phrases

  • see a hypnotist
  • visit a hypnotist
  • hypnotist's office
  • trained as a hypnotist

Prepositions

  • to a hypnotist
  • with a hypnotist
  • from a hypnotist

Etymology

GreekEnglish

The word 'hypnotist' was formed in the mid-19th century from 'hypnosis' plus the suffix '-ist', which means a person who does or practices something. 'Hypnosis' was coined around 1843 by the Scottish surgeon James Braid from the Greek word 'hypnos' (sleep), combined with the suffix '-osis' (a condition or process). Braid used the term to describe the deep, trance-like state he observed in his patients.