# alchemist

/ˈæɫtʃəmɪst/ (US) · /ˈælkɪmˌɪst/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/alchemist
Updated: 2026-05-09

## Definition

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

For teachers: 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.