physicist

IPA/ˈfɪzɪsɪst/
KK[fˈɪzɪsɪst]IPA/ˈfɪzɪsɪst/

physicist — noun

  • physicistsingular
  • physicistsplural

1. someone trained in physics, especially a person who researches it or teaches it

1.nounB2
Definition

someone trained in physics, especially a person who researches it or teaches it as a job.

Example

The physicist at CERN explained the new experiment to visiting students.

a physicist at + university/lab

As a child, Mei-Ling dreamed of becoming a physicist and studying stars.

become a physicist

Common collocations
  • theoretical physicist
  • particle physicist
  • nuclear physicist
  • famous physicist
  • young physicist
Synonyms
  • scientist

    broader term for a person working in any science, not only physics

  • researcher

    focuses on investigation and can be used in many fields

  • academic

    mainly used for a university teacher or researcher, not specifically a physics expert

Grammar Patterns

a physicist at + university/lab

become a physicist

physicist who + clause

Usage Note

Usually describes a professional researcher, teacher, or expert in physics, not simply any student taking a school physics class.

Common Mistakes

My sister saw a physician on TV explaining gravity.
My sister saw a physicist on TV explaining gravity.
'physician' means doctor, while a 'physicist' studies physics.
Ken became a physicist after one semester of high school physics.
Ken wants to study physics, but he is not a physicist yet.
the word usually suggests real training or professional work in the subject.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Physicist is specific: it means a person whose field is physics, such as matter, energy, forces, or space. Scientist is much broader and can describe a chemist, biologist, or any other science expert. Researcher is also broader; it stresses the work of studying and discovering, and a researcher may work in medicine, business, or education as well as science. Engineer is different again: engineers use scientific knowledge to design or build practical things, while physicists are often more focused on explaining how the natural world works. Say 'The physicist gave a talk on black holes,' but 'The engineer designed the new bridge.'

physicist ↗scientist ↗researcher ↗engineer ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • theoretical physicist
  • particle physicist
  • nuclear physicist
  • famous physicist

Phrases

  • become a physicist
  • work as a physicist

Prepositions

  • physicist at + university/lab
  • physicist in + field

Etymology

GreekLatinEnglish

Physicist was formed in English from physics and the ending -ist, which is used for a person connected with a subject or job. Physics came into English through Latin from Greek physis, meaning 'nature'. The word therefore points to someone who studies the laws of the natural world.