ist
n. countablen. a person who follows a specific set of beliefs or has a certain quality. It is usually used as a suffix at the end of words like 'artist' or 'optimist', but can be used alone to describe someone with strong, often narrow, views.
n. a person who adheres to a particular doctrine, system, or practice. Often used as a back-formation from words ending in the suffix '-ist' to describe someone with a rigid ideological commitment.
He is a dedicated ist who follows every rule.
The critic dismissed the painter as a mere ist, suggesting his work followed a trend rather than true inspiration.
In academic circles, being labeled an ist of any variety can imply a lack of intellectual flexibility, as it suggests the individual is bound by a specific, pre-defined framework of thought.
From the suffix -ist.
Primarily functions as a suffix; when used as a standalone noun, it is often derogatory or indicates a person defined by a specific 'ism'.