English Reference

Word

alchemist

Phoneticsal·chemist

US/ˈæɫtʃəmɪst/

UK/ˈælkɪmˌɪst/

Definition

n. a person from history who tried to turn ordinary metals into gold or find a way to live forever using magic and early science.

n. a practitioner of an early form of chemical philosophy that aimed to achieve the transmutation of base metals into gold and the discovery of a universal cure for disease.

Examples

“The alchemist spent years trying to turn lead into gold.”

“In medieval stories, the alchemist is often shown working in a dark room filled with glass jars and old books.”

“While modern science views the alchemist as a precursor to the chemist, their work was deeply rooted in mystical traditions and the search for spiritual perfection through material change.”

Examples

simple

“The alchemist spent years trying to turn lead into gold.”

contextual

“In medieval stories, the alchemist is often shown working in a dark room filled with glass jars and old books.”

complex

“While modern science views the alchemist as a precursor to the chemist, their work was deeply rooted in mystical traditions and the search for spiritual perfection through material change.”

Real-World Examples

“A row of these brewers lined up on a bar more closely resembles a science lab than a coffee shop, casting the barista in the role of a modern-day alchemist.”
Barista Hustle · 20 Sept 2023
“Born Christopher Dee in Winchester in 1948, Berry-Dee proudly traces his lineage to John Dee, the Elizabethan occultist and alchemist.”
The Guardian · 15 Aug 2026

Etymology

From Old French alquemiste (French alchimiste), from Medieval Latin alchemista. Equivalent to alchemy + -ist.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry

Level
C2 · Proficiency
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference