# physicist

/ˈfɪzɪsɪst/ (US) · /fˈɪzɪsˌɪst/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. scientist in physics

noun · CEFR B2

a person who studies or works in physics, the science of energy, matter, and motion.

For teachers: a professional or academic specialist in the field of physics.

- The physicist explained how the new telescope captures light from distant stars.
- Theoretical physicists often use complex mathematical models to predict the behaviour of subatomic particles before they are observed in experiments.

### 2. believer in physicalism

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic

an old term for someone who believes life is explained only by chemistry and physics.

For teachers: a proponent of the theory that biological phenomena are reducible to purely chemical and physical principles. The term is contrasted with 'vitalist'.

- In the nineteenth century, a physicist might argue that life was just a complex machine.
- The debate between the physicist and the vitalist dominated early physiological discourse regarding the nature of the 'living force'.

## Examples

- The physicist explained how gravity keeps the planets in orbit.
- After years of research, the physicist published a paper on the behavior of subatomic particles.
- The theoretical physicist spent decades developing mathematical models to reconcile the laws of general relativity with the observed phenomena of quantum mechanics.

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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.