biologist
gb/baɪˈɑləd͡ʒɪst/ us/baɪˈɑləd͡ʒɪst/
B2
English
~ 7300
Senses
0 senses
unknown
technical
B2
entity
1
scientist who studies living things
A scientist who studies living things, such as animals, plants, and bacteria, and how they live and change.
Usage pattern:
a biologist studies [living things]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "biologist" (a person) with "biology" (the science). For example, they may say *"I want to study biologist"* instead of *"I want to study biology"*, or *"He is a biology"* instead of *"He is a biologist"*. Another mistake is forgetting the article in singular, saying *"She is biologist"* instead of *"She is a biologist"*.
Synonyms
biological scientist (More formal and less common; emphasizes the academic or research side of the work.)
|
life scientist (Broader term that can include biologists and related specialists; used more in professional or institutional contexts.)
Antonyms
nonscientist (General term for a person who does not work in science; contrasts with the professional scientific role of a biologist.)
|
layperson (Highlights that the person does not have expert scientific training, unlike a biologist.)
Collocations
marine biologist
|molecular biologist
|field biologist
|research biologist
|wildlife biologist
|evolutionary biologist
Themes
science
|work
|education
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The biologist spent years studying how coral reefs respond to rising ocean temperatures.
- As a marine biologist, she often dives to collect samples of sea life.
- Biologists recently discovered a new species of frog in the remote rainforest.
- The company hired a biologist to test the safety of their new food product.
- Many biologists now use computer models to understand how diseases spread through populations.
Learner examples
- The biologist looks at cells under a microscope.
- My sister wants to be a biologist and study animals.
- Biologists help us understand how the human body works.
- A biologist can work in a lab or in the field.
- The biologist wrote a report about the plants in that area.
Grammar
Dictionary form
biologist
IPA
GB/baɪˈɑləd͡ʒɪst/
US/baɪˈɑləd͡ʒɪst/
Syllables & stress
bio - lo - gist (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (lo)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: biologist
- Plural: biologists
Word family
Forms
biologists
noun
Core family
Advanced or less common
biotic
adjective
abiotic
adjective
Expressions
cell biologist
1/sˈɛl baɪˈɑləd͡ʒɪst/
fixed phrase
biologist who studies cells
A biologist who studies cells, the tiny building blocks of all living things, and how they work.
Examples
- The cell biologist used fluorescent dyes to watch how cells divide.
- Cell biologists have learned a lot about how viruses enter human cells.
- As a cell biologist, she focuses on how cells repair damage to their DNA.
conservation biologist
1/kˌɑnsɚvˈeɪʃən baɪˈɑləd͡ʒɪst/
fixed phrase
biologist who works to protect nature
A biologist who studies how to protect plants, animals, and natural places from harm and loss.
Examples
- Conservation biologists warn that many insect species are declining rapidly.
- The conservation biologist helped design a plan to restore the damaged wetland.
- As a conservation biologist, she works with local farmers to protect bird habitats.
evolutionary biologist
1/ˌɛvəlˈuʃənˌɛɹi baɪˈɑləd͡ʒɪst/
fixed phrase
biologist who studies evolution
A biologist who studies how living things change over many generations and how new species appear.
Examples
- The evolutionary biologist explained how birds evolved from dinosaurs.
- Evolutionary biologists compare fossils and DNA to understand the history of life on Earth.
- As an evolutionary biologist, he is interested in how human behavior has changed over time.
field biologist
1/fˈild baɪˈɑləd͡ʒɪst/
fixed phrase
biologist who works mostly outdoors
A biologist who does most of their work outside in nature, watching and studying living things where they live.
Examples
- As a field biologist, she spends weeks in remote forests observing bird behavior.
- Field biologists often camp in rough conditions to collect their data.
- The field biologist carefully recorded the location of each plant he found.
marine biologist
1/mɚˈin baɪˈɑləd͡ʒɪst/
fixed phrase
biologist who studies ocean life
A biologist who studies animals, plants, and other living things in the sea and oceans.
Examples
- She works as a marine biologist, researching how plastic pollution affects sea turtles.
- The documentary followed a team of marine biologists exploring a deep-sea trench.
- Many marine biologists spend long periods on research ships far from land.
molecular biologist
1/məlˈɛkjəlɚ baɪˈɑləd͡ʒɪst/
fixed phrase
biologist who studies molecules in cells
A biologist who studies very small parts of cells, such as DNA and proteins, to understand how living things work.
Examples
- The molecular biologist analyzed DNA samples to identify the gene linked to the disease.
- As a molecular biologist, he spends most of his time working with chemicals in the lab.
- Molecular biologists often use powerful machines to read and compare genetic information.
research biologist
1/ɹisˈɚt͡ʃ baɪˈɑləd͡ʒɪst/
fixed phrase
biologist focused on scientific research
A biologist whose main job is to do scientific studies and experiments, usually in a lab or university.
Examples
- She is a research biologist at a cancer institute.
- Many research biologists apply for grants to fund their experiments.
- As a research biologist, he publishes his findings in scientific journals.
wildlife biologist
1/wˈaɪldlˌaɪf baɪˈɑləd͡ʒɪst/
fixed phrase
biologist who studies wild animals
A biologist who studies wild animals and the places where they live, often to help protect them.
Examples
- The wildlife biologist tracked wolves using GPS collars to learn about their movements.
- Wildlife biologists work with governments to create plans to protect endangered species.
- As a wildlife biologist, he often speaks to local communities about living safely with bears.