# essayist

/ˈɛˌseɪɪst/ (US) · /ˈɛseɪˌɪst/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/essayist
Updated: 2026-10-16

## Definition

a person who writes essays, especially short pieces about life, ideas or culture for magazines and books.

For teachers: a writer of essays, especially short literary or journalistic prose on cultural, political, or personal subjects.

## Examples

- She works as an essayist for a monthly magazine.
- The young essayist writes about city life and publishes her pieces in national newspapers.
- The acclaimed essayist blends memoir and criticism to explore how technology reshapes memory and attention.

## Synonyms

writer, author

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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.