-ist

Suffix

-ist (noun-forming suffix, plural -ists)

1. a person who studies or practices a particular discipline;
   • botanist, one who studies plants
   • psychiatrist, one who practices psychiatry
2. a person who uses a device of some kind;
   • violinist, one who plays a violin
   • cyclist, one who rides a (bi)cycle
3. one who engages in a particular type of activity;
   • adventurist, one who takes risks or goes on adventures
   • artist, one who makes art
4. one who suffers from a specific condition or syndrome
   • autist, egoist
   • Note, these are related to -isms: autism, egoism
5. one who subscribes to a particular theological doctrine or religious denomination;
   • Buddhist, Baptist, monotheist
   • Note, these are related to -isms: Buddhism, monotheism
6. one who has a certain ideology or set of beliefs;
   • Marxist, modernist, nihilist, existentialist, fascist, pacifist, activist, environmentalist,
   • Note, these are related to -isms: Marxism, modernism, nihilism, existentialism, fascism, pacifism
7. one who owns or manages something;
   • capitalist; industrialist
   • Note, these are related to -isms: capitalism; industrialism
8. a person who holds bigoted, partial views with respect to a particular matter.
   • sexist, racist: Note, these are related to -isms: sexism, racism
9. a person who speaks or specializes in a (usually constructed) language.
   • Esperantist, Tokiponist