English Reference

Word

entomologist

Phoneticsen·to·mol·o·gist

US/ˌɛntəˈmɑɫədʒəst/

UK/ɛntəmˈɒlədʒˌɪst/

Definition

n. a scientist who studies insects. They look at how insects live, what they eat, and how they help the environment.

n. a scientist who studies the biology, ecology, and classification of insects. Often involves fieldwork and laboratory analysis to understand insect behavior and their role in ecosystems.

Examples

“The entomologist identified the rare butterfly in the garden.”

“After years of field research, the entomologist published a detailed report on how local beetles help the soil stay healthy.”

“While many people view insects as pests, a dedicated entomologist recognizes their essential role in pollination and the maintenance of global biodiversity.”

Examples

simple

“The entomologist identified the rare butterfly in the garden.”

contextual

“After years of field research, the entomologist published a detailed report on how local beetles help the soil stay healthy.”

complex

“While many people view insects as pests, a dedicated entomologist recognizes their essential role in pollination and the maintenance of global biodiversity.”

Real-World Examples

“As an entomologist who had studied the use of fungi to kill insect pests, Mathulwe immediately gathered samples of the dead armyworms and the fungus to test at her laboratory in Pietermaritzburg.”
The Guardian · 12 Aug 2026
“Most research into tick ecology and disease only began back in the 1980s, when Lyme disease was first discovered by medical entomologist Wilhelm Burgdorfer .”
Smithsonian Magazine · 31 Jul 2026

Etymology

From entomology + -ist.

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

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference