Home UK English -ist

Meaning of -ist in English:

-ist

Pronunciation /ɪst/

suffix

  • 1Forming personal nouns and related adjectives denoting an adherent of a system of beliefs, principles, etc. expressed by nouns ending in -ism.

    See -ism (sense 2)

    ‘hedonist’
    • ‘Calvinist’
    1. 1.1Forming nouns (and related adjectives) denoting a person who subscribes to a prejudice or practises discrimination.
      • ‘sexist’

  • 2Forming nouns denoting a member of a profession or business activity.

    ‘dentist’
    • ‘dramatist’
    • ‘florist’
    1. 2.1Forming nouns denoting a person who uses a thing.
      ‘flautist’
      • ‘motorist’
    2. 2.2Forming nouns denoting a person who does something expressed by a verb ending in -ize.
      • ‘plagiarist’

Origin

From Old French -iste, Latin -ista, from Greek -istēs.