-ist

Save This Word!

a suffix of nouns, often corresponding to verbs ending in -ize or nouns ending in -ism, that denote a person who practices or is concerned with something, or holds certain principles, doctrines, etc.: apologist; dramatist; machinist; novelist; realist; socialist; Thomist.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Compare -ism, -istic, -ize.

Origin of -ist

Middle English -iste<Latin -ista<Greek -istēs; in some words, representing French -iste,German -ist,Italian -ista, etc., ≪ Latin <Greek, as above

Words nearby -ist

issue par, issue price, issuing house, Issus, Issyk-Kul, -ist, -ista, Istambuli, istana, Istanbul, Isth.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use -ist in a sentence

Anyone who identifies as an ‘ist’ is going to be hypersensitive about some topics.
Louis C.K. on Daniel Tosh’s Rape Joke: Are Comedy and Feminism Enemies?|Jennifer L. Pozner|July 18, 2012|DAILY BEAST
In fact, he needs the most fundamentals-ist election of all time.
Mitt Romney’s Tough Sell: Blaming a Worsening Economy on Obama|Michael Tomasky|April 22, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The A-List chef as the star, with the A-ist customer and the A-ist owner in supporting roles.
De Niro and the Celebrity Restaurant Curse|Randall Lane|June 24, 2009|DAILY BEAST
Weder sicher noch gerathen ist, etwas wider Gewissen zu thun.
Dictionary of Quotations from Ancient and Modern, English and Foreign Sources|James Wood

Weise sein ist nicht allzeit gut—It is not always good to be wise.
Dictionary of Quotations from Ancient and Modern, English and Foreign Sources|James Wood
Wer der Vorderste ist, fhrt die Herde—The foremost leads the herd.
Dictionary of Quotations from Ancient and Modern, English and Foreign Sources|James Wood
Wo viel zu wagen ist, ist viel zu wgen—Where 15 there is much to risk, there is much to consider.
Dictionary of Quotations from Ancient and Modern, English and Foreign Sources|James Wood
Wo viel Licht ist, ist starker Schatten—The shadow is deeper where the light is strong.
Dictionary of Quotations from Ancient and Modern, English and Foreign Sources|James Wood

British Dictionary definitions for -ist

-ist

suffix

(forming nouns) a person who performs a certain action or is concerned with something specifiedmotorist; soloist

(forming nouns) a person who practises in a specific fieldphysicist; typist

(forming nouns and adjectives) a person who advocates a particular doctrine, system, etc, or relating to such a person or the doctrine advocatedsocialist

(forming nouns and adjectives) a person characterized by a specified trait, tendency, etc, or relating to such a person or traitpurist

(forming nouns and adjectives) a person who is prejudiced on the basis specifiedsexist; ageist

Word Origin for -ist

via Old French from Latin -ista, -istēs, from Greek -istēs

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012