# naturalist

/ˈnætʃɝəɫəst/ (US) · /nˈætʃəɹəlˌɪst/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/naturalist
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

a person who studies plants and animals in nature. They often spend a lot of time outdoors watching how living things behave.

For teachers: an expert in or student of natural history, typically focusing on the observation of plants and animals in their environment.

## Examples

- The naturalist spent years observing the behavior of mountain gorillas.
- During the expedition, the naturalist carefully documented several previously unknown species of orchids and butterflies.
- While modern biology often relies on laboratory genetics, the classical naturalist emphasizes the importance of observing organisms within the complex web of their native ecosystems.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used to describe historical figures like Charles Darwin or modern wildlife experts.

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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.